Geodynamic and Palaeobathymetric Reconstruction between Canada and Greenland

Abstract

The Baffin Bay and the Labrador Sea are sedimentary basins of Cretaceous to Eocene age, located between Canada and Greenland. They are separated by the bathymetric high of Davis Strait which - as a polar gateway limits the water transport between both. While oceanic crust has long been identified from magnetic spreading anomalies in the Labrador Sea, the crust of Baffin Bay and Davis Strait remained a subject of debate. To analyse the tectonic evolution of the area, research expeditions in 2008 and 2010 collected geophysical data. I here present P-wave velocity and density models along a 710-km-long line in southern Baffin Bay and a 315-km-long line across the Davis Strait. Seismic reflection and magnetic anomaly data support and compliment the models. Previous studies are confirmed: Baffin Bay is floored by oceanic crust, the Davis Strait by stretched continental crust. By plate kinematic modelling I developed the tectonic evolution of southern Baffin Bay and the Davis Strait area. I further present a palaeobathymetric reconstruction of the Davis Strait as polar gateway.