Late Quaternary glacial development of the mid-Norwegian margin -: 65 to 68°N

We have studied the younger part of the large Plio-Pleistocene prograding wedge on the northern part of the mid-Norwegian margin, using high-resolution seismic data. The wedge is mainly composed of thick glacigenic debris flow packages interbedded with hemipelagic and contouritic sediments. Age constraints of the seismic stratigraphy obtained through correlation to ODP 644A show that the Fennoscandian Ice Sheet advanced to the shelf break during Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 2 (ca. 15-22 ka BP), 6 (118-186 ka BP), 10 (339-362 ka BP), 12 (423-478 ka BP) and 14 (524-565 ka BP), and to the inner shelf during MIS 8 (245-303 ka BP). The stratal geometry and sedimentary pattern locally indicate rapid subsidence (up to ca. 1.2 m/ka) of the outer shelf and slope area since 350 ka. BP. The subsidence is most likely a response to the rapid deposition of glacigenic sediments during the Plio-Pleistocene. It is inferred that sediment loading was an important factor behind the diapirism in the Vema Dome area. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.