On continental margins, the upper slope to shelf break environment forms a critical region where sediment supply, hydrographic activity and gravitational processes determine how and when sediments are partitioned between the shallow- and deep-marine realm. On the SW Iberian margin, relatively few studies have addressed the dynamics of this region, although it holds key information regarding the link between the sedimentary evolution of the continental shelf and the contourite depositional system on the middle slope. This work therefore presents a high-resolution analysis of the morphological and stratigraphic expressions of late Quaternary (dominantly last glacial and present-day interglacial) sedimentary processes on the upper slope and shelf margin sector between 7° and 7°30’ W.

The integration of seismic, bathymetric and hydrographic data reveals the presence of alongslope processes and products (a bottom current-related plastered drift, moat, erosional surface and terrace, an internal wave-/tide-controlled sediment wave field), downslope (gravitational) processes and products (an upper slope – shelf margin valley system, slumps, debrites, gullies), neotectonic elements (diapirs) and fluid flow features (pockmarks, bright spots). The spatial distribution of these features indicates that the study area becomes increasingly alongslope-dominated towards the W, and oppositely, more downslope-dominated towards the E, because sediment supply to the latter area is enhanced under the dominant eastward dispersal of fluvially supplied sediments on the shelf. In addition, glacial-interglacial variations in the amount of sediments supplied to the shelf edge and the intensity of oceanographic processes in the study area also generate a distinct temporal variability, with glacial and interglacial intervals respectively recording principally downslope- and alongslope-controlled morphological elements. Finally, regardless of these overall spatial and temporal patterns, diapirism and fluid flow are inferred to locally destabilize sediments and induce small-scale mass wasting in the study area. These findings are not only relevant to the northern Gulf of Cadiz, but also to the general understanding of sedimentary dynamics and controls in mixed downslope- and alongslope-controlled upper slope to shelf margin settings worldwide.

在大陆边缘，上坡至陆架断裂环境形成了一个关键区域，沉积物供应，水文活动和重力过程决定了沉积物在浅海和深海领域之间的分配方式和时间。在伊比利亚西南边缘，尽管该地区掌握了有关大陆架沉积演化与中斜坡上的轮廓石沉积系统之间联系的关键信息，但有关该区域动力学的研究相对较少。因此，这项工作为高分辨率的分析提供了7°至7°30'W范围上斜坡和陆架边缘扇面晚期第四纪（主要是末次冰川和当今的冰川间）沉积过程的形态学和地层表达。

地震，测深和水文数据的集成揭示了斜坡的过程和产物（与海流有关的灰泥漂流，护城河，侵蚀面和阶地，内部由波/潮控制的泥沙波场），下坡（重力）的存在。流程和产品（上坡-陆架边缘谷系统，塌陷，碎屑，沟壑），新构造元素（渗水）和流体流动特征（麻点，亮点）。这些特征的空间分布表明，研究区沿W向的坡度逐渐增加，而向E相向的坡度则逐渐增加，这是因为在河流供给的沉积物主要向东扩散的作用下，向后者的沉积物供应增加了。架子。此外，研究区域内向陆架边缘提供的沉积物数量的冰河间变化和海洋学过程的强度也产生了明显的时间变化，其中冰期和冰间期主要记录下坡和沿坡控制的形态要素。最后，无论这些整体的时空格局如何，都可以推断出二叠纪和流体流动使沉积物局部不稳定，并在研究区域内造成了小规模的物质浪费。这些发现不仅与加的斯湾北部有关，而且与全球范围内混合的下坡和沿坡控制的上坡至陆架边缘环境中沉积动力学和控制的一般认识有关。