Short-Timescale Strata Formation on a Canyon-Dominated Margin: Assessing the Link Between Shelf and Slope Systems
Abstract
It is commonly thought that significant amounts of sediment do not escape to areas seaward of the shelf break during the present highstand of sea level because of sediment trapping in estuaries and on broad continental shelves. Modern sediment accumulation past the shelf break (i.e. the slope and deep-sea) is observed in many locations, but rates are typically low and the mechanism of escape is nepheloid layer advection off the shelf break. Contrary to this premise, recent studies have shown that significant amounts of sediment can escape the shelf break during sea-level highstands, particularly on tectonically-active margins (e.g., Kineke et al., 2000). These studies reveal the importance of off-shelf sediment exchange during present conditions in certain environments; however, the specific characteristics (e.g., shelf morphology, regional circulation) that permit significant sediment export from the continental shelf are not well understood, particularly near canyon heads. The long-term goal of this research is to assess how a bathymetrically complex shelf break (i.e., with many canyons) affects the link between shelf and slope sedimentary systems on broad continental margins.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA572878
Entities
People
- Beth Mullenbach
Organizations
- Texas A&M University