Middle–Late Pleistocene landscape evolution of the Dover Strait inferred from buried and submerged erosional landforms

Prominent landforms, either buried or preserved at the seafloor, provide important constraints on the processes that led to the opening and present-day configuration of the Dover Strait. Here, we extend previous investigations on two distinct landform features, the Fosse Dangeard and Lobourg Channel...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Quaternary science reviews 2019-01, Vol.203, p.209-232
Main Authors: García-Moreno, David, Gupta, Sanjeev, Collier, Jenny S., Oggioni, Francesca, Vanneste, Kris, Trentesaux, Alain, Verbeeck, Koen, Versteeg, Wim, Jomard, Hervé, Camelbeeck, Thierry, De Batist, Marc
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Geomorphology
Megaflood
Palaeogeography
Pleistocene
Sciences of the Universe
Western Europe
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Summary:Prominent landforms, either buried or preserved at the seafloor, provide important constraints on the processes that led to the opening and present-day configuration of the Dover Strait. Here, we extend previous investigations on two distinct landform features, the Fosse Dangeard and Lobourg Channel, to better understand the poly-phase history of their formation and inferences for the opening and Pleistocene evolution of the Dover Strait. The Fosse Dangeard consist of several interconnected palaeo-depressions. Their morphology and spatial distribution are interpreted to be the result of plunge-pool erosion generated at the base of north-eastward retreating waterfalls. Their infills comprise internal erosional surfaces that provide evidence for the occurrence of several erosional episodes following their initial incision. The Lobourg Channel comprises various sets of erosional features, attesting to the occurrence of several phases of intense fluvial and/or flood erosion. The last one of these carved a prominent inner channel, which truncates the uppermost infill of the Fosse Dangeard. The morphology of the Lobourg inner channel and the erosional features associated with its incision strongly resemble landforms found in megaflood-eroded terrains, indicating that this valley was likely eroded by one or several megafloods. Our study therefore corroborates the existence of waterfalls in the Dover Strait at least once during the Pleistocene Epoch. It also provides evidence of the occurrence of multiple episodes of fluvial and flood erosion, including megafloods. Finally, this study allows us to establish a relative chronology of the erosional/depositional episodes that resulted in the present-day morphology of this region. •The landforms preserved in the Dover Strait evidence a polyphase history.•The Fosse Dangeard was formed by plunge pool erosion at the base of waterfalls.•The Fosse Dangeard was subject to 2–6 scour-and-fill episodes since its formation.•The Lobourg Channel was carved by phases of intense fluvial and flood erosion.•Last phase of valley incision of the Lobourg Channel was produced by megaflood/s.
ISSN:0277-3791
1873-457X
DOI:10.1016/j.quascirev.2018.11.011