Quantifying the ability of the sedimentary record to document tectonic and
climatic events in the Gulf of Corinth, central Greece
Supervisors: Dr. Rebecca Bell (rebecca.bell@imperial.ac.uk); Dr Alex Whittaker
(alex.whittaker@imperial.ac.uk); Dr. Lisa McNeill (University of Southampton)
Background: The sedimentary record contained within basins has been used by geologists for
decades to uncover ancient tectonic and climatic events. The use of the sedimentary record to unravel
details of Earth History assumes that tectonic uplift and climate variations will influence terrestrial
erosion rates, and that eroded sediments will then be transported and eventually deposited in a basin
providing a record of the erosion rate change. However, a number of important questions remain as to
the reliability of this fundamental geological method (Allen, 2008; Armitage et al., 2011). These
questions include: (i) how large does a climatic or tectonic event have to be before it will produce a
lasting imprint in the sediment record; and (ii) is there a time lag between the tectonic or climatic
event and the age of the deposited sediments that record it?
In order to test sediment source-to-sink relationships we must study modern sedimentary basins where
the recent tectonic and climatic forcing on erosion and sediment-routing pathways are well
constrained. We also require the basin to be a closed system, such that all of the sediments that have
been eroded have been contained and that sufficient seismic reflection and well data exist to image the
sediment record. The Gulf of Corinth in central Greece is only one of a few basins on Earth which
meet these conditions, providing the opportunity to integrate studies of onshore sediment erosion with
studies of offshore sediment deposition.
Fig. 1A. Uninterpreted seismic
reflection data from the Gulf of
Corinth, B. Seismic stratigraphic
interpretation showing two main
sediment packages with different
seismic facies, A and B, and
horizon correlation with a global
sea-level curve to age-estimate
stratigraphy (Bell et al., 2009).
The relationship between the sedimentary record and tectonic/climatic forcing is particularly
important in the Gulf of Corinth as the age of deep offshore stratigraphy has been determined by
correlating seismic facies variations with sea level curves (Bell et al., 2008; Bell et al., 2009; Fig. 1,
above). A number of hypotheses regarding rift development have been produced using these age
models, however to test their validity a better understanding of the controls on seismic facies
variations and the timing of tectonic/climatic events responsible for the change in facies are required.
Methods: This project will focus on the Gulf of Corinth area in central Greece. The student will (i)
investigate the sediment catchments of the Gulf of Corinth using digital elevation models (DEM)
analysis to identify modern river catchments, (ii) conduct a field season to quantify sediment flux at
some case study major rivers (e.g. Whittaker et al., 2010), (iii) investigate sediment deposition in the
Gulf of Corinth offshore basin using 2D seismic reflection and well data, and (iv) use numerical
models in Matlab to calculate modern-day and ancient sediment flux into the Gulf of Corinth under
glacial and inter-glacial conditions and compare the results with offshore sediment volumes to better
constrain the conditions under which sediments with different seismic facies deposited and produce an
improved age model for Gulf of Corinth stratigraphy (Fig. 1).
Outcomes: The research programme will link tectonic geomorophology with sedimentolgical and
seismic stratigraphic analysis to provide new insights into how tectonic and climatic events are
recorded in the sediment record. The project will also approach some regional Gulf of Corinth
controversies, such as the age of major unconformities and what factors controlled their development
(Fig. 1). The results of the PhD will be published in high-impact journals and the student will have the
opportunity to present key findings both at UK conferences and at least one international meeting.
Training: This PhD project would suit geologists interested in geomorphology, sedimentology and
structural geology. The student will receive training in field sedimentology, structural geology and
geomorphology, laboratory experience of proprietary GIS software such as ARC and industrystandard seismic interpretation software such as Petrel. The student will also gain experience in
numerical modelling techniques for predicting sediment flux volumes using Matlab. This PhD project
would be ideal for students interested in a future career in academia or the hydrocarbon industry.
References
ALLEN (2008) From Landscapes into Geological History. Nature, 451, 274-276.
ARMITAGE, DULLER, WHITTAKER, ALLEN (2011) Transformation of tectonic and climatic signals from
source to sedimentary archive, Nature Geoscience, 4, 231-235.
BELL, MCNEILL, BULL & HENSTOCK (2008) Evolution of the Offshore Western Gulf of Corinth. Geological
Society of America Bulletin, 120, 156-178.
BELL, MCNEILL, BULL, HENSTOCK, COLLIER & LEEDER (2009) Fault Architecture, Basin Structure and
Evolution of the Gulf of Corinth Rift, Central Greece. Basin Research, 21, 824-855.
W HITTAKER, ATTAL & ALLEN (2010) Characterising the origin, nature and fate of sediment exported
from catchments perturbed by active tectonics, Basin Research, 22, 809-828 .