At the start of the TURBOMUD project, a six-month secondment at the University of Innsbruck, Austria, was essential for the researcher to acquire state-of-the-art techniques needed to analyze the extensive data collected from core samples. During this time, the researcher gained expertise in multivariate statistical analysis and refined event-dating techniques using synchronicity testing. Following this secondment, Dr. Menapace moved to the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC) in Barcelona, Spain, where, with the guidance of his supervisor, Dr. Perea, he conducted the remaining analyses. This phase allowed him to acquire advanced seismic and bathymetric processing skills, which he applied to achieve the project’s objectives.
In the course of this research, more than ten eruptive events were identified and dated on the Ginsburg Mud Volcano (MV), reaching back to approximately 30,000 years BP (including both surficial and subsurficial events). Three of these eruptions were successfully correlated with known historical EQs, demonstrating that the MVs in the GoC are indeed sensitive to seismic activity. However, the study revealed that, at least in the Ginsburg MV case, the recurrence interval between eruptions is nearly double that of high-magnitude (Mw > 8) EQs. Additionally, the long core enabled the identification of nine authigenic paleo-seepage fronts just above the sulfate-methane transition zone through more than 400000 yr, documenting the history of gas seepage in the region and its correlation with global sea-level fluctuations. In the deeper part of the GoC, the Abyssal plain, the TURBOMUD project has provided novel insight on the origin and deposition of various types of turbidites, highlighting the plethora of mechanisms that fuel these mass transport deposits.
A major milestone in Dr. Menapace’s scientific career was his participation as the head of the sedimentology team on an international marine research expedition aboard the DV Joides Resolution. This expedition, developed as a secondary project with the support of the TURBOMUD project, provided valuable data and new insights into event stratigraphy along active margins. These findings will inform future projects, advancing our understanding of earthquake-triggered sedimentary processes in tectonically active regions.
The TURBOMUD project has communicated its results through several key scientific and public outreach platforms. The project’s findings have been showcased at prestigious international conferences. The results highlighted discoveries on mud volcano activity, EQ recurrence, and fluid flow in the GoC, providing crucial insights for the scientific community. The project shared findings through platforms like scientific blogs and educational sites, engaging the broader public on topics of marine geology, tectonics, and seismicity. These dissemination efforts have enhanced both scientific understanding and public awareness of seismic risk and cold seeps processes in active tectonic regions.
