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Published on: November 18, 2015
Contemporary sediment-transport processes in submarine canyons
Pere Puig1, Albert Palanques, Jacobo Martín
1Institut de Ciències del Mar, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Barcelona E-08003, Spain; email: ppuig@icm.csic.es , albertp@icm.csic.es , jmartin@icm.csic.es.
Annual Review of Marine Science
|August 14, 2013
Summary
Submarine canyons channel sediment from shallow to deep seas through various transport mechanisms. These processes deposit sediment, which is later flushed down-canyon by large failures.
Area of Science:
- Geology
- Oceanography
- Marine Geology
Background:
- Submarine canyons are key features on continental margins, facilitating sediment transport.
- Understanding sediment transfer mechanisms within these canyons is crucial but remains under investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize current knowledge on sediment transfer processes in submarine canyons.
- To identify dominant transport modes and triggering mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing studies on contemporary sedimentary processes in submarine canyons.
- Analysis of various sediment transport mechanisms and their triggers.
Main Results:
- Sediment transfer is dominated by storm-induced turbidity currents, hyperpycnal flows, dense shelf-water cascading, canyon-flank failures, and trawling.
- Internal waves also play a role in resuspending and redistributing sediments.
- Sediments are often deposited in upper and middle canyon reaches for extended periods before further transport.
Conclusions:
- Multiple dynamic processes contribute to sediment transport through submarine canyons.
- Sediment accumulation and flushing are complex, long-term processes within these environments.
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