Stratigraphic architecture of the Pyreneo-Languedocian submarine fan,Gulf of Lions,western Mediterranean Sea

The Pyreneo-Languedocian submarine sediment body, located in the western sector of the Gulf of Lions, is an example of a fan-like depositional system essentially controlled by salt tectonics. The area was subjected to a combined effect of overburden subsidence into the evacuated salt layer and a significant distal salt thickening, due to preferential basinward salt migration. This mode of salt migration impacted the Quaternary sea-bottom morphology by creating a large midslope topographic low, providing space accommodation for the Pyreneo-Languedocian fan. At gulf scale, the fan is a unique feature because unchannelized sedimentary environment in the area occurs at slope level, thus in minor water depth in relation to all other deep-water sedimentary systems offshore Gulf of Lions. To cite this article: A.T. dos Reis et al., C. R. Geoscience 336 (2004).     

Rôle de la végétation dans la protection contre l'érosion hydrique de surface

This paper is a review on the current knowledge concerning the role of vegetation in protection against surface hydric erosion. It first explains the mechanisms of vegetation action in relation to processes of erosion and sedimentation. Secondly, it presents the results of researches carried out on the efficiency of different vegetation structures and the significance of the rate of vegetation cover for combating gully erosion. To cite this article: F. Rey et al., C. R. Geoscience 336 (2004).     

In situ anaerobic degradation of petroleum alkanes in marine sediments: preliminary results

The degradation of acyclic petroleum hydrocarbons was studied during a 24-month experiment in Mediterranean coastal sediments (Gulf of Fos). Sediment cores entirely contaminated with oil (Arabian Light Crude Oil) were incubated in situ. The use of conservative tracers of sediment's particles reworking (luminophores) allowed the distinction of the reworked layer from the anoxic deeper sediments. Using the 17α,21βC₃₀ hopane (C₃₀H) as an inert internal reference, we could demonstrate that, after 24 months of experiment, acyclic petroleum hydrocarbons can be degraded under natural anaerobic conditions. The reactivity of individual alkanes appeared to depend on their chemical structure. To cite this article: D. Massias et al., C. R. Geoscience 335 (2003).To cite this article: D. Massias et al., C. R. Geoscience 335 (2003).     

Contributions respectives des courants et de la houle dans la mobilité sédimentaire d'une plate-forme interne estuarienne. Exemple : le seuil interinsulaire,au large du pertuis d'Antioche,France

This paper investigates the relative influence of waves, wind-induced current and tidal current on the sediment mobility of a macro-tidal environment belonging to the inner shelf seaward of the ‘pertuis Charentais’ (France). This study, mainly based on three-week hydrodynamic in-situ measurements, shows that, for a water depth of 23 m, the swell (rather than wind waves) orbital velocity is large enough to initiate the motion of medium sands that are then transported by currents. Estimations show that medium sand of 0.2 mm is transported during 92% of the measurements, whereas coarse sand and gravel move sporadically, during storm, synchronously with spring tides. Further more, bedload fluxes appear strongly larger when waves are taken into account (370 times larger for 0.2-mm sands). To cite this article: D. Idier et al., C. R. Geoscience 338 (2006).