This study investigates the Late Quaternary sediment distribution of the Zambezi turbidite system (Mozambique Channel, Western Indian Ocean) from a set of piston cores that characterizes the sedimentation in the Intermediate Basin and in the proximal and distal parts of the Zambezi Fan. Sedimentological and geochemical analyses permit to define variations in sediment composition, sediment accumulation rates and timing of turbiditic deposits over the past 720 kyr. Our study reveals low sediment inputs and rare turbiditic deposits in the Zambezi turbidite system, and the deep (>2,500 m) Mozambique Channel in general, over the studied time interval. The reconstruction of the terrigenous flux in the upper part of the system suggests monsoon-related precipitation changes as the main forcing for riverine inputs variability in the Zambezi system. However, the occurrence of turbiditic deposits in the cores suggests that there is no genetic link between their triggering and evolving climate and sea-level conditions, thus emphasizing transformation of failed (slide-generated) sediment from the continental slope as the main initiation process for turbidity currents in the Zambezi system. Finally, our data highlight regional-scale changes in sedimentary facies through time, interpreted as successive ‘on-off’ switches in the activity of the distal Zambezi Fan, and by extension, regional-scale depocenter shifts. The last one likely occurred at 350 ± 42 kyr, and is concomitant with a significant increase in terrigenous inputs into the proximal Intermediate Basin. It is speculated that this depocenter shift is related to a major southward migration of the Zambezi delta.

这项研究从一组活塞岩心研究了赞比西河浊积体系（第四纪印度洋莫桑比克海峡）的晚第四纪沉积物分布，这些岩心表征了中间盆地以及赞比西河扇近端和远端的沉积。沉积学和地球化学分析可以确定过去720年来沉积物组成，沉积物积累速率和浊积沉积时间的变化。我们的研究表明，在研究的时间间隔内，赞比西河浊积体系和一般的深莫桑比克海峡（> 2,500 m）中的沉积物输入量少且浊积物稀少。系统上部的陆源通量的重建表明，季风相关的降水变化是赞比西河系统河流输入变化的主要推动力。但是，岩心中湍流沉积物的存在表明，它们的触发和不断演变的气候与海平面条件之间没有遗传联系，因此强调了大陆坡失稳（由滑坡产生的）沉积物的转变是该过程的主要起始过程。赞比西河系统中的浑浊流。最后，我们的数据强调了沉积相随时间的区域尺度变化，这被解释为赞比西河远端扇形活动的连续“开-关”转换，以及区域尺度的沉积中心偏移。最后一个可能发生在350±42 kyr，并伴随着向近中层盆地的陆源输入的显着增加。据推测，这种重心偏移与赞比西河三角洲的主要南移有关。岩心中浊积沉积的发生表明，它们的触发和不断演变的气候与海平面条件之间没有遗传联系，因此强调了从大陆坡中失败的（由滑坡产生的）沉积物的转变是浊流的主要起始过程。在赞比西河系统中。最后，我们的数据强调了沉积相随时间的区域尺度变化，这被解释为赞比西河远端扇形活动的连续“开-关”转换，以及区域尺度的沉积中心偏移。最后一个可能发生在350±42 kyr，并伴随着向近中层盆地的陆源输入的显着增加。据推测，这种重心偏移与赞比西河三角洲的主要南移有关。岩心中浊积沉积的发生表明，它们的触发和不断演变的气候与海平面条件之间没有遗传联系，因此强调了从大陆坡中失败的（由滑坡产生的）沉积物的转变是浊流的主要起始过程。在赞比西河系统中。最后，我们的数据强调了沉积相随时间的区域尺度变化，这被解释为赞比西河远端扇形活动的连续“开-关”转换，以及区域尺度的沉积中心偏移。最后一个可能发生在350±42 kyr，并伴随着向近中层盆地的陆源输入的显着增加。据推测，这种重心偏移与赞比西河三角洲的主要南移有关。