Downward particle fluxes in a submarine canyon of the Northwestern Alborán Sea: The Guadiaro Submarine Canyon

Abstract

Total mass flux (TMF) within the Guadiaro canyon and its western adjacent slope showed an important seasonal variability, ranging more than two orders of magnitude. Two peaks of downward mass ?uxes occurred in winter coinciding with events of increasing Guadiaro River discharge. Particle fluxes in the open slope showed a similar variability and were slightly higher than ?uxes measured at the same depth within the Guadiaro channel, indicating common sediment transfer processes within and outside the channel. During the autumn-winter period, the lithogenic content was high and relatively constant while during the spring-summer period the opal and organic carbon content increased both in magnitude and variability. Peaks of biogenic constituents were associated to biological blooms