Sediment waves on the Monterey fan levee: a preliminary physical interpretation.
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Abstract
Sediment waves on the deep ocean floor occur mostly on the lower continental rise on slopes of 1° or less. Previous studies show that their amplitude and wavelength vary greatly, but little is known about their shape in plan. A detailed survey of a 30-km2 area of abyssal-depth sediment waves associated with the levee of the Monterey fan valley shows a pattern of sinuous crests and troughs with parallel, well-bedded internal structure. Material in the upper 1 m of sediment consists predominantly of bioturbated, muddy coccolith ooze. A single thin, silty horizon can be correlated between adjoining waves.
On the basis of measured wave dimensions and an estimate of flow velocity we use a simple two-layer model for water movement to infer approximate flow parameters. The sediment waves are considered to be formed most likely by low-velocity (10 cm/s), low-concentration turbidity flows approximately 100–800 m thick. This interpretation emphasizes the role of low-speed, low-concentration turbidity currents in the downslope movement of fine-grained material. This type of transport—deposition regime explains the formation of sediment waves very well except for certain waves occurring on depositional ridges in the deep ocean.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Sediment waves on the Monterey fan levee: a preliminary physical interpretation. |
| Series title | Marine Geology |
| DOI | 10.1016/0025-3227(80)90009-2 |
| Volume | 37 |
| Issue | 1-2 |
| Year Published | 1980 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Elsevier |
| Description | 18 p. |
| First page | 1 |
| Last page | 18 |
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