Student corner. Contourites at The Northern Scotia Sea: Sedimentary and oceanographic implications. IAS Post Graduate Grant Scheme Report - 2nd Session 2011.

Circulation of bottom-water masses controls major along-slope (contourite) sedimentary processes on continental margins, which can generate both depositional [known as contourite drifts or drifts (Heezen et al., 1966; Faugerés et al., 1999)] and erosive features in deep marine environments. The effects of bottom currents and related deep-water processes and products are not well understood, but they have recently garnered major research interest in different fields (Rebesco & Camerlenghi, 2008).