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Seafloor slopes control submarine canyon distribution: A global analysis
Anne Bernhardt1, Wolfgang Schwanghart2
1Institute of Geological Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, 12249 Berlin, Germany.
Science Advances
|June 11, 2025
Summary
Submarine canyon formation is primarily controlled by continental slope inclination, not onshore geology. This finding impacts our understanding of sediment and nutrient transfer to the deep ocean.
Area of Science:
- Geology
- Oceanography
- Biogeochemistry
Background:
- Submarine canyons are crucial for transporting sediments, carbon, and nutrients to the deep ocean, influencing global biogeochemical cycles.
- The primary drivers of submarine canyon occurrence and distribution remain inadequately understood.
- Continental margins worldwide feature numerous submarine canyons, highlighting their significance in Earth system processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and explain the global distribution patterns of submarine canyons.
- To identify the key geological factors controlling the formation and density of submarine canyons.
- To elucidate the indirect influence of large-scale tectonic and thermal processes on canyon development.
Main Methods:
- Development and application of a spatial statistical model to analyze global canyon distribution.
- Analysis of data from over 2000 submarine canyons worldwide.
- Correlation analysis between canyon occurrence and various geological parameters, including continental slope inclination.
Main Results:
- Submarine canyon occurrence shows a strong positive correlation with continental slope inclination.
- Onshore orogeny and related surface processes play a secondary role in canyon formation.
- Continental slope inclination is identified as the dominant factor controlling submarine canyon density globally.
Conclusions:
- Continental slope morphology, shaped by marine tectonic and thermal processes, is the primary indirect control on submarine canyon distribution.
- These findings refine our understanding of pathways for sediment and nutrient transfer to the deep ocean.
- The distribution of submarine canyons has significant implications for long-term global biogeochemical cycles.
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