INTRODUCTION

The international congress on "Deep-water Circulation: Processes & Products" takes place in Baiona (Pontevedra, Spain) from 16-18 June, 2010 (Fig. 1). It is organised with wide European and global support and convened many of the principal specialists in the field.

Deep-water circulation is a critical part of the global conveyor belt that regulates Earth's climate. The bottom (contour) current component of this circulation is hugely significant in shaping the deep seafloor, through erosion, transport and deposition. As a result a great variety of depositional and erosive features are developed, including a range of different drifts, sediment waves, moats, furrows, and abraded surfaces. Yet the nature of these deep-water processes and contourites thereby deposited are still poorly understood in detail. Their ultimate decoding will undoubtedly yield results of fundamental importance to earth and ocean science. The Baiona Congress, therefore, will be focused specifically on processes and deposits related to bottom-water circulation.

Nearly one hundred abstracts from 255 contributors will be presented at the meeting, providing a truly multidisciplinary perspective of interest to both academic and industrial participants. The papers and discussions at this congress will contribute greatly to the advance of knowledge of deep-water bottom circulation and related processes and contourite sediments. The different and multidisciplinary contributions, including geomorphology, stratigraphy, sedimentology, paleoceanography, physical oceanography, deep-water ecology demonstrate that the advances in paleoceanographic reconstructions and understanding of the ocean’s role in the global climate system depend largely on the feedbacks among disciplines. New insights into the link between the biota and deep-water ecosystem with bottom currents confirm the need for this area to be investigated and mapped. Likewise, it is confirmed that deepwater contourites must be viewed not only to as a scientific target but also as potential natural resources.

We look forward to a very successful Congress and to meeting you in Baiona.

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

F. J. Hernández-Molina (Univ. Vigo, Spain); D. A. V. Stow (Heriot-Watt Univ., UK); E., Llave (IGME, Spain); M. Rebesco (OGS, Italy); G. Ercilla (ICM-CSIC, Spain); D. Van Rooij (RCMG, Belgium); A. Mena (Univ. Vigo, Spain); J. T. Vázquez (IEO, Spain); and A. Voelker (LNEG, Portugal).