TY - JOUR
T1 - A critical test of the concept of submarine equilibrium profile
AU - Georgiopoulou, Aggeliki
AU - Cartwright, Joseph A.
PY - 2013/3/15
Y1 - 2013/3/15
N2 - The existence of a slope equilibrium profile has been widely used to account for erosional and depositional processes on submarine slopes and turbidite systems. Profiles out-of-equilibrium are commonly observed in actively deforming areas where channels seem to be deflected or diverted by seafloor structures. In this study the concept of the submarine equilibrium profile is tested in an area of extensive surface faulting to examine whether channels adopt an equilibrium-type profile through time. The study area is on the slope of the Nile Delta, which is disrupted by a number of surface-rupturing normal faults. Prior to fault linkage, several submarine channels flowed down the slope and either utilised relay ramps or flowed through fault scarps of the fault array. Where a relay ramp had been utilised, post fault linkage, the channels of the area either avulsed or converged into one major channel in response to a change in the deformed slope profile to a more concave shape. The thalweg of the post fault linkage channel and two slope profiles either side of it are measured in the area of the fault array, to understand how the channel evolved in response to the active faulting. When fault displacement is relatively small the combination of channel erosion and aggradation results in a channel thalweg profile near-equilibrium with predictable modifications of channel dimensions (depth and width) even if sediment supply was infrequent and episodic. It is concluded that turbidite channels can conform to the concept of equilibrium and submarine base level if it is the most energy efficient route for submarine gravity flows downslope. The most energy efficient route will be one where flows bypass the slope without eroding or depositing and move in a direct downslope course towards base level.
AB - The existence of a slope equilibrium profile has been widely used to account for erosional and depositional processes on submarine slopes and turbidite systems. Profiles out-of-equilibrium are commonly observed in actively deforming areas where channels seem to be deflected or diverted by seafloor structures. In this study the concept of the submarine equilibrium profile is tested in an area of extensive surface faulting to examine whether channels adopt an equilibrium-type profile through time. The study area is on the slope of the Nile Delta, which is disrupted by a number of surface-rupturing normal faults. Prior to fault linkage, several submarine channels flowed down the slope and either utilised relay ramps or flowed through fault scarps of the fault array. Where a relay ramp had been utilised, post fault linkage, the channels of the area either avulsed or converged into one major channel in response to a change in the deformed slope profile to a more concave shape. The thalweg of the post fault linkage channel and two slope profiles either side of it are measured in the area of the fault array, to understand how the channel evolved in response to the active faulting. When fault displacement is relatively small the combination of channel erosion and aggradation results in a channel thalweg profile near-equilibrium with predictable modifications of channel dimensions (depth and width) even if sediment supply was infrequent and episodic. It is concluded that turbidite channels can conform to the concept of equilibrium and submarine base level if it is the most energy efficient route for submarine gravity flows downslope. The most energy efficient route will be one where flows bypass the slope without eroding or depositing and move in a direct downslope course towards base level.
KW - Fault linkage
KW - Nile Delta
KW - Normal fault
KW - Submarine channel
KW - Submarine equilibrium profile
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84873988097&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2012.03.003
DO - 10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2012.03.003
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84873988097
SN - 0264-8172
VL - 41
SP - 35
EP - 47
JO - Marine and Petroleum Geology
JF - Marine and Petroleum Geology
IS - 1
ER -