Belgian Polar Platform - Research - The research groups

The research groups - Paleoclimate

Universiteit Gent (UG)
Renard Centre of Marine Geology
Promotor: Prof. Dr. Marc De Batist

Presentation

The Renard Centre of Marine Geology focus on the oceanic and marine side of earth sciences, but a group of people within the centre is active –and has been for more than 10 years– in the study of lake systems: i.e., applying marine geological methods on lakes. By using seismic- and sequence-stratigraphic and sedimentological techniques we try to unravel the climatic and tectonic controls on sedimentation processes.
In Antarctica our research is mainly focused on the reconstruction of past changes in ice sheet movement and of the continent’s glacial history, based on the study of continental margin sea-floor morphology and stratigraphy and of coastal lake sediments.

Activities

Main field of activity in polar regions

Our polar research is currently mainly focused on the study of the sedimentary infill of glacial lake systems by seismic profiling and sediment coring. This sedimentary record is also used to reconstruct past climate and environmental change. It helps us understanding ice-sheet dynamics, and this in particular for the period of the Late-Glacial and Holocene.

List of projects

HOLANT

Research Group Team

Director: Professor Dr. Marc De Batist
PhD researchers: Katrien Heirman

Publication list

AMBLAS, D., URGELES, R., CANALS, M., CALAFAT, A.M., REBESCO, M., CAMERLENGHI, A., ESTRADA, F., DE BATIST, M. & HUGUES-CLARKE, J.E., 2006. Relationship between continental rise development and palaeo-ice sheet dynamics, Northern Antarctic Peninsula Pacific margin. Quaternary Science Reviews, 25(9-10), 933-944.

BART, P.J., DE BATIST, M. & JOKAT, W., 1999. Interglacial collapse of Crary Trough Mouth Fan, Weddell Sea, Antarctica: implications for Antarctic glacial history analysis. Journal of Sedimentary Research, 69(6), 1276-1289.

BART, PH., DE BATIST, M. & MILLER, H., 1994. Neogene collapse of glacially deposited shelf-edge deltas in the Weddell Sea: Relationships between deposition during glacial periods and sub-marine fan development. Terra Antartica, 1(2), 317-318.

CANALS, M., CASAMOR, J.L., URGELES, R., CALAFAT, A.M., DOMACK, E.W., BARAZA, J., FARRAN, M. & DE BATIST, M., 2002. Seafloor evidence of a subglacial sedimentary system off the northern Antarctic Peninsula. Geology, 30(7), 603-606.

CANALS, M., DE BATIST, M., BARAZA, J., ACOSTA, J. & THE GEBRA TEAM, 1994. New reflection seismic data from Bransfield Strait - preliminary results of the GEBRA-93 survey. Terra Antartica, 1(2), 291-292.

CANALS, M., ESTRADA, F., URGELES, R. & GEBRAP 96/97 TEAM (among whom DE BATIST, M.), 1998. Very high resolution seismic definition of glacial and postglacial sediment bodies in the continental shelves of the Northern Trinity Peninsula region. Annals of Glaciology, 27, 260-264.

CANALS, M., URGELES, R., ESTRADA, F. & GEBRAP 96/97 TEAM (among whom DE BATIST, M.), 1998. Internal structure and seismic facies of the deep water sediment drifts off the Northern Graham Land: Results from a very high resolution survey. Annals of Glaciology, 27, 265-267.

COHIMAR/SEDANO SCIENTIFIC PARTY (CANALS, M., CALAFAT, A., CAMERLENGHI, A., DE BATIST, M., URGELES, R., FARRAN, M.L., GELETTI, R., VERSTEEG, W., AMBLAS, D., REBESCO, M., CASAMOR, J.L., SANCHEZ, A., WILLMOTT, V., LASTRAS, G. & IMBO, Y.), 2003. Uncovering the footprint of former ice streams off Antarctica. EOS Transactions, 84(11), 97, 102-103.

DE BATIST, M., BART, PH., KUVAAS, B., MOONS, A.-M. & MILLER, H., 1994. Detailed seismic stratigraphy of Crary Fan, Weddell Sea. Terra Antartica, 1(2), 321-323.

DE BATIST, M., BART, PH. & MILLER, H., 1997. Trough-mouth fans: Crary Fan, Eastern Weddell Sea, Antarctica. In: DAVIES, T.A., BELL, T., COOPER, A.K., JOSENHANS, H., POLYAK, L., SOLHEIM, A., STOKER, M.S. & STRAVERS, J.A. (Eds.) Glaciated Continental Margins: An Atlas of Acoustic Images. Chapman & Hall. 276-279.

DE BATIST, M., BART, PH. & VANNESTE, K., 1998. BELANTOSTRAT - Belgian Contribution to the "Antarctic Offshore Acoustic Stratigraphy (ANTOSTRAT)" Project. In: CASCHETTO, S. (ed.) Belgian Scientific Research Programme on the Antarctic - Scientific Results of Phase Three. Marine Geophysics. Belgian Science Policy Office, Brussels. 69 pp.

DE BATIST, M. & HENRIET, J.P., 2001. Subtle reflections from glacial margins: the geological record of Antarctic glacial history. In: DECLEIR, H. & DE BROYER, C. (Eds.) The Belgica Expedition Centennial: Perspectives on Antarctic Sciences and History. Brussels University Press, 295-308.

DE BATIST, M. & HENRIET, J.P., 2003. Antarctic shelf-slope dynamics: an innovative geophysical approach. In: Belgian Scientific Research Programme on the Antarctic – Phase 4 (1997-2001) - Scientific Results. Vol II – Dynamics of the Southern Ocean and Palaeoenvironmental records. Belgian Science Policy Office, Brussels. 62 pp.

DE BATIST, M., HENRIET, J.P., MILLER, H., MOONS, A., DENNIELOU, B., KAUL, N., MAES, E., JOKAT, W., SCHULZE, B., UENZELMANN-NEBEN, G., VERSTEEG, W. & THE GRAPE TEAM, 1993. High-resolution seismic investigation of the evolution (stratigraphy and structure) of the continental margins of the eastern Weddell Sea and of the Antarctic Peninsula. In: CASCHETTO, S. (ed.) Belgian Scientific Research Programme on the Antarctic - Scientific Results of Phase Two. Vol II - Marine Geophysics. Belgian Science Policy Office, Brussels. 66 pp.

GRACIA, E., CANALS, M., FARRAN, M., PRIETO, M.J., SORRIBAS, J. & GEBRA TEAM (among whom DE BATIST, M.), 1996. Morphostructure and evolution of the Central and Eastern Bransfield Basins (NW Antarctic Peninsula). Marine Geophysical Researches, 18(2-4), 429-448.

HENRIET, J.P., MEISSNER, R., MILLER, H. & the GRAPE TEAM (among whom DE BATIST, M.), 1992. Active margin processes along the Antarctic Peninsula. Tectonophysics, 201, 229-253.
IMBO, Y., DE BATIST, M., CANALS, M., PRIETO, M.J. & BARAZA, J., 2003. The Gebra Slide: a submarine slide on the Trinity Peninsula Margin, Antarctica. Marine Geology, 193(3-4), 235-252.

MILLER, H., DE BATIST, M., HEESEMANN, B., JOKAT, W., KAUL, N., LENSCH, N., MAES, E., UENZELMANN, G. & VERSTEEG, W., 1991. Reflexionsseismik. In: MILLER, H. & OERTER, H. (eds.) Die Expedition ANTARKTIS-VIII mit FS "Polarstern" 1989/90. Bericht vom Fahrtabschnitt ANT-VIII/5. Berichte zur Polarforschung, 86, 20-27.

MILLER, H., DE BATIST, M., HEESEMANN, B., JOKAT, W., KAUL, N., LENSCH, N., MAES, E., UENZELMANN, G. & VERSTEEG, W., 1991. Refraktionsseismik. In: MILLER, H. & OERTER, H. (eds.) Die Expedition ANTARKTIS-VIII mit FS "Polarstern" 1989/90. Bericht vom Fahrtabschnitt ANT-VIII/5. Berichte zur Polarforschung, 86, 28-29.

MILLER, H., DE BATIST, M., JOKAT, W., KAUL, N., STEINMETZ, S., UENZELMANN-NEBEN, G. & VERSTEEG, W., 1991. Revised Interpretation of Tectonic Features in the Southern Weddell Sea, Antarctica, from New Seismic Data. Polarforschung, 60(1), 33-38.

MOONS, A., DE BATIST, M., HENRIET, J.P. & MILLER, H., 1992. Sequence stratigraphy of the Crary Fan, southeastern Weddell Sea. In: YOSHIDA, Y., KAMINUMA, K. & SHIRAISHI, K. (eds.) Recent Progress in Antarctic Earth Science. TERRAPUB, Tokyo, 613-618.

PRIETO, M.J., CANALS, M., ERCILLA, G. & DE BATIST, M., 1998. Structure and geodynamic evolution of Central Bransfield Basin (NW Antarctica) from seismic reflection data. Marine Geology, 149(1-4), 17-38.

PRIETO, M.J., CANALS, M., ERCILLA, G. & DE BATIST, M., 1996. Estratigrafía Sísmica comparada de los márgenes de la Cuenca Central de Bransfield, la Península Antártica y el Mar de Ross (Antártida Occidental). Geogaceta, 20(1), 146-149.

PRIETO, M.J., CANALS, M., ERCILLA, G., GRACIA, E. & DE BATIST, M., 1997. Edificación sedimentaria del margen SW de la Cuenca Central de Bransfield (Antártida Occidental). Boletín de la Real Sociedad Española de Historia Natural, 93(1-4), 73-84.

PRIETO, M.J., ERCILLA, G., CANALS, M. & DE BATIST, M., 1999. Seismic stratigraphy of the Central Bransfield Basin (NW Antarctic Peninsula). Interpretation of deposits and sedimentary processes in a glacio-marine environment. Marine Geology, 157(1-2), 47-68.

PRIETO, M.J., GRACIA, E., CANALS, M., ERCILLA, G. & DE BATIST, M., 1997. Sedimentary history of the Central Bransfield Basin (NW Antarctic Peninsula). In: RICCI, C.A. (ed.) The Antarctic Region: Geological Evolution and Processes. 711-717.

VANNESTE, K., BART, PH., DE BATIST, M., MILLER, H. & THEILEN, F., 1994. A comparison of reflection seismic geometries on three different glacial margins. Terra Antartica, 1(2), 437-439.
VERSTEEG, W., DE BATIST, M., JOKAT, W., KAUL, N., MAES, E. & UENZELMANN, G., 1991. Datenverarbeitung. In: MILLER, H. & OERTER, H. (eds.) Die Expedition ANTARKTIS-VIII mit FS "Polarstern" 1989/90. Bericht vom Fahrtabschnitt ANT-VIII/5. Berichte zur Polarforschung, 86, 29.

Complementary resources about this research group:

www.rcmg.ugent.be