The Agulhas Ridge: Its role as a barrier to the exchange of water masses between high and low latitudes
The Agulhas Ridge forms a topographic anomaly within the Agulhas Falkland Fracture Zone, South Atlantic, and in this way represents a barrier to the exchange of water masses and hence energy and salt between high and low latitudes. The exchange of energy and salt plays a critical role in the stability and variability of the global oceanic circulation and thus has a strong impact on climate. Variations in the local ocean circulation, mainly Circumpolar Deepwater and Agulhas Rings, are archived in the structure and distribution sedimentary deposits. High resolution seismic reflection collected during RV Maria S. Merian cruise MSM 19/2 image those sedimentary deposits will be analysed invoking information from ODP Leg 177 Sites 1088-1090 and lead to information on modifications of depositional style and environment. This will allow the development of a self-consistent model for the development of the oceanic circulation and hence climate.