On the Nature of the Iberia-Africa Boundary in the Gulf of Cadiz - Evidence for Transpression and Implications

The SW of Iberia is currently undergoing compression related to the convergence between Iberia and Africa. Multiple contractional features have been documented both immediately west and east of the Gulf of Cadiz in recent years. Significant seismic activity reflecting mainly compression has been observed between these two domains, but the features associated to this seismicity remained elusive. This paper documents the contractional structures that provide linkage across the Gulf of Cadiz and play a major role in defining the present-day bathymetry of this area.