Delta progradation and sediment fluxes since the last glacial in the Thermaikos Gulf and the Sporades Basin, NW Aegean Sea, Greece

Sediment fluxes in the NW Aegean Sea were estimated for three time spans of the Late Quaternary (Interval I: 6000 yr BP-present, Interval II: 18 000- 6000 yr BP and Interval III: ∼24 000-18 000 yr BP). The terrestrial sediment load supplied by the Axios, Aliakmon, Pinios, and smaller rivers, was estimated at 35.4 × 109 t for Interval I. 93% of this material was deposited on the continental shelf, whereas the remaining 7% was transported to the adjacent basin. The mean annual terrestrial flux was estimated at 5.5 × 106 t yr− 1. During Interval II, more than 79 × 109 t of terrestrial sediment were discharged into the area (terrestrial flux 6.6 × 106 t yr− 1), of which 86% was deposited on the shelf. During Interval III, the terrestrial load was 40.6 × 109 t (terrestrial flux 6.8 × 106 t yr− 1), and sediments were predominantly deposited on the slope and basin. Based on the sediment's carbonate content, the biogenic loads and fluxes were also determined. The biogenic flux during Intervals II and III was found to be ∼2.5-times higher than during Interval I.