Movement of sediment on the Gulf of Mexico,continental slope and upper continental shelf

Abstract

Grain size, coarse fraction analyses, and depositional environment as interpreted from microfauna are related to the character of sparker reflections at the location of core holes drilled by Exxon, Chevron, Gulf, and Mobil on the continental slope of the northern Gulf of Mexico. Continuous sparker reflections are correlated with slowly deposited, evenly bedded sediments containing bathyal faunas. The coarse fraction is dominated by the tests of foraminifera. Discontinuous, discordant reflections and diffractions are correlated with sediments more rapidly emplaced in the bathyal environment of the continental slope by slumping and sliding from the continental shelf. Their coarse fraction is dominated by terrigenous sand grains. A large portion of the volume of continental slope sediments appears to consist of these “displaced”; sediments, including an area 3–24 km wide and 80 km long, southeast of Corpus Christi, Texas. Comparable processes of movement of sediments are interpreted on the continental shelf south of the Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River. Bathymetry in this area is characterized by a series of subaqueous “gullies”; radiating from the river mouth and leading to terraces at their southern extremities. Side‐scan sonar and PDR surveys show a rough bottom in these “gullies”; and terraces, as contrasted with a relatively smooth bottom elsewhere. The rough bottom is interpreted as indicative of slump and creep of the sediments from shallower water. Some foundation soil borings in this area south of Southwest Pass find a low‐strength material gradually increasing in strength with depth. Other borings find a “crust”; of anomalously strong material 8–15 m below the mudline. The microfauna recovered from the “crust”; has moved to its present position by slump or creep from shallower water along a pattern comparable to the gullies shown in the present‐day bathymetry.     

Sedimentary environments of the east-central Bering Sea continental shelf

A factor analysis of 180 bottom sediment samples from the east-central Bering Sea continental shelf identifies five factors that account for 95% of the variation in the 17 whole ø size classes that were used as variables. Factor I represents coarse sediments that have been bypassed in areas of active water circulation. Factors II and III represent fine and very fine sands that have been hydraulically sorted, reworked, and mixed. Factor IV represents coarse to medium silt that has been segregated from areas of relatively high energy. Factor V represents both the production of sediments finer than medium silt and deposition within the lowest-energy environment in this area.Modern and palimpsest sediments are areally prevalent over this section of the shelf. Relict sediments occur in only a few small areas. The dispersal of sediments is affected by surface and tidal currents as well as wave action. Ice rafting is not an important geological agent. Data from the eastcentral Bering Sea shelf indicate that sediments on subarctic continental shelves are not necessarily characterized by an abundance of rocky sediments or gravel.     

The budget and geochemistry of arsenic in a continental shelf environment

The concentrations of arsenic species in continental-shelf waters of the southeastern U.S. are controlled mainly by simple physical mixing of shelf waters and Gulf Stream intrusions. The biota mediate redox reactions which result in a disequilibrium of arsenic species; up to 20% of the total arsenic (averaging 1.1 μg/l) occurs as unstable arsenite [As (III)] and dimethylarsenic, the remainder consists of thermodynamically favored arsenate [As (V)]. Uptake of arsenic by the biota has a minor effect on arsenic distribution in offshore waters, producing a deep-water arsenate maximum, and minima for arsenite and dimethylarsenic. Riverine and atmospheric arsenic inputs to the shelf waters are relatively insignificant. Southeastern rivers contain only about 0.3 μg/l dissolved arsenic, and the atmosphere adjacent to continental shelf waters contains about 1.7 ng/m³ of As (V), exclusively associated with the particulate fraction.     

Response of the suspended sediment transport system to continental shelf dynamics

Surface currents influenced by a wind-driven upwelling event in San Pedro Bay moved total suspended matter (TSM) confined to the inner shelf on 19 April 1978 seaward, so that by 27 April surface TSM had increased over the outer shelf. Near-bottom concentrations of TSM also increased across the shelf during this time. This is explained by sediment resuspended by large surface waves being advected from the inner shelf seaward by the mean flow after this flow had turned from southeasterly to southerly when upwelling ceased on 26 April. These complex shelf dynamics contribute to the off-shelf transport of mud to the slope and deep basins.     

Abundance of chemical elements in continental shelf sediment of China

For the first time, an element abundance table of China Shelf Sea sediments is published based on 286 samples from the continental shelf of China analyzed for 62 chemical elements. The shelf sediments result from the redistribution of sediments from China over the continental shelf. On the basis of comparison of element abundances among the China shelf samples, hemipelagic Okinawa Trough samples, and pelagic brown clay from the West Pacific, it is clear that each has its own elemental characteristics. Hg anomaly enrichment in Okinawa Trough sediments may be used as an indicator of hydrothermal activity.     

The importance of habitat features in low-relief continental shelf environments

Benthic habitats can be loosely divided into low and high relief based upon gross bottom topography. While fish community studies in high relief environments such as coral reefs have been extensively studied using in situ visual analysis, most studies of low relief environments have utilized trawl-based methodologies. Such studies while valuable, are unable to detect small-scale variations in habitat availability and faunal responses to that variation. This paper presents the availability of other techniques, ranging from visual surveys to sonar and bathymetric analysis, which allow researchers to address questions of habitat utilization in low relief environments.     

Submarine faults and slides on the continental shelf,northern Gulf of Alaska

Abstract

Submarine faults and slides or slumps of Quaternary age are potential environmental hazards on the outer continental shelf (OCS) of the northern Gulf of Alaska. Most faults that approach or reach the seafloor cut strata that may be equivalent in age to the upper Yakataga Formation (Pliocene‐Pleistocene). Along several faults, the seafloor is vertically offset from 5 to 20 m. A few faults appear to cut Holocene sediments, but none of these shows displacement at the seafloor. Submarine slides or slumps have been found in two places in the OCS region: (1) seaward of the Malaspina Glacier and Icy Bay, an area of 1200 km² with a slope of less than 0.5°, and (2) across the entire span of the Copper river prodelta, an area of 1730 km², having a slope of about 0.5°. Seismic profiles across these areas show disrupted reflectors and irregular topography commonly associated with submarine slides or slumps. Potential slide or slump areas have been delineated in areas of thick sediment accumulation and relatively steep slopes. These areas include (1) Kayak Trough, (2) parts of Hinchinbrook Entrance and Sea Valley, (3) parts of the outer shelf and upper slope between Kayak Island and Yakutat Bay, and (4) Bering Trough.     

Detailed current structures over the continental shelf off the San'in Coast in summer

We discussed the detailed current structures over the continental shelf off the San'in Coast in June 1988 and June 1989, using ADCP (acoustic Doppler current profiler) data, which were taken by the quadrireciprocal method (Katoh, 1988) for removing tidal currents from observed currents. In waters northwest of Hagi (Yamaguchi Pref.) and Hamada (Shimane Pref.), two mainly northeastward current cores were observed on each of transects. The offshore current core is baroclinic in relation to the bottom cold water with temperature below 10°C, and has velocities mostly between 0.5 and 0.8kt (26 and 41 cm s^–1) at 20 m depth. The onshore current core, which is barotropic, has velocities between 0.3 and 0.5 kt (15 and 26 cm s^–1) at 20 m depth. In waters northwest of Izumo (Shimane Pref.), where the width of the continental shelf is narrow, it is difficult to distinguish between the two current cores, because the offshore core tends to join the onshore one. Estimating the magnitude of each term in the diurnally averaged equation of motion for about 3.3 nautical miles (6.1 km), we found that the orders of the inertia term and the gradient of tidal stress were 10^–4 cm s^–2, and the order of the Coriolis force was 10^–3 cm s^–2. Near the bottom northwest of Hagi and Hamada, two bands of countercurrents were found; one was slightly offshore of the intersection between the continental shelf and permanent thermocline, and the other was in the water colder than 5°C ridging on the continental shelf.     

Indirect evidence for sediment transport on the continental shelf off Israel

The geographical distribution of coal particles that fell during nine years to the sea bottom from the open sea coal terminal off Hadera, Israel, shows a consistent northerly transport path, and it is inconceivable that the sand at that location would move in an opposite direction. Semicircular, current-scoured moats associated with small mounds found at the edge of the continental shelf off Ashdod and Haifa, Israel, also suggest a general northward-directed sediment transport. The northward sediment flow on the Israeli continental shelf inferred from this evidence therefore supports the model of Emery and Neev about general sand transport patterns along the Israeli coastline and continental shelf.     

Notes on a sediment map for the South Otago continental shelf

Modern sand and silty sand cover the inner shelf, with silty sand accumulating off the mouth of the Clutha River. Palimpsest sediment dominated by shell debris and polymodal detrital gravel and sand covers the outer shelf. The detrital sediment is largely or wholly of Clutha River origin.     

Sediment distribution and transport processes on the outer continental shelf of the Hebridean Sea

The major topographical features of the study area within the Hebridean Sea consist of two submarine banks lying at the edge of the outer continental shelf, an offshore island slope surrounding the Island of Barra-Head, a basin crossing the area in a SSE—NNW direction, and a deep trench.The present investigation suggests that the area was covered with glacial drifts and morainic accumulations during the Pleistocene and that during a subsequent low sea level the drifts were reworked around the topographically high areas. Much of the clay material has been transported to and deposited in regions off the continental slope.Recent conditions are represented by an erosional and depositional environment. The erosional environment is represented by the summit and leeward side of the two banks and the offshore island slope. In these areas tidal-induced currents and south-westerly swells continue to sweep the remaining sand, resulting in the formation of lag gravel deposits. The depositional environment in the basin results in homogeneous sand cover.     

Frequency of sediment movement on the Washington continental shelf: A note

Several independent sets of field data have been analyzed in order to estimate the frequency of sediment movement on the continental shelf off Washington over an annual period and to identify the major components of the bottom velocity field causing this motion. Sediment motions resulting from: (1) bottom currents caused by surface wind stress and tides, and (2) wave-induced oscillatory bottom currents have been investigated. Analysis of a 260-day current record from 3 m off the seabed at 80 m depth on the continental shelf and a 205-day open-ocean wave record collected on Cobb Seamount 465 km west of the Washington coast suggest that the threshold of sediment motion was exceeded for approximately 22 days per year as a result of mean currents (20 min time averaged) and approximately 53 days per year from wave-induced oscillatory currents. Substantial variations can be expected from year to year, so these values represent order of magnitude estimates.     

Mississippi-Alabama outer continental shelf topographic features formed during the late Pleistocene-Holocene transgression

A geophysical survey of the outer Missisippi-Alabama continental shelf revealed three types of topographic features: 1) reef-like mounds (RLM), 2) isobath-parallel ridges, and 3) shallow depressions. RLM appear to be bioherms. Their bases cluster in two isobath bands, 105 to 120 m and 74 to 82 m, implying the late Pleistocene-Holocene transgression was nonuniform. The deeper RLM probably formed during a slow sea level rise at the beginning of the deglaciation. An 11 ka BP C¹⁴ age was obtained from the summit of one, at a depth of 90 m. Depth relationships suggest the shallower RLM and most ridges formed about the time of the mid-deglacial Younger Dryas cooling episode.     

High-resolution analysis of the deposition pattern on the Amazon sub-aquatic delta and outer continental shelf

Continental shelves off major river deltas or estuaries act as an interface between terrestrial environments and marine depo centers like the Amazon Fan. In order to understand sedimentary processes on the Amazon sub-aquatic delta and outer shelf, Late-Quaternary erosional and depositional structures have been investigated with an ultra high-resolution seismic survey system (4 kHz). The wavy morphology of the outer shelf implies the presence of tidal sand ridges or meandering channels. In the latter case, the local presence of channel fill deposits suggests several cut-off loops (ox bows). The inter-channel areas are consequently interpreted as levees, which reach their maximum height of 10 m in the area between the Amazon river mouth and the Amazon canyon. The morphology of terraces in front of the sub-aquatic delta reflect erosional processes which presumably occurred during accelerated sea level rise at the beginning and the end of the Younger Dryas. A carbonate platform is present in the northwestern survey area close to the shelf break. Its water depth of 120–130 m implies an evolution during the last glacial maximum. The asymmetric shape of the Cabo Norte Shoal on the topset of the sub-aquatic delta is typical of bottom current produced shoals. The steeper northwestern flank lies in the lee position of the northwest flowing coastal current. Southeast of the shoal the <10 m thick uppermost sequence of presumably Holocene age consists of lobes that dip with the same apparent angle as the foreset towards the offlap break. Within the area 20 km northwest of the shoal the uppermost sequence forms a smooth depression and may be erosionally truncated at the seafloor. Here, the prograding direction includes a northwest component. A shale diapir, which rises from a transparent underlying sequence, marks the transition to an area where the upper sequence is not resolved in the data.     

海底扇对外大陆架划界的潜在影响

自《联合国海洋法公约》1994年生效以来,外大陆架划界工作引起了地质、法律等多学科研究者的共同关注。为论证海底扇这一特殊海底地形在外大陆架划界工作中可能产生的影响,通过对全球典型的10个海底扇共同特征的统计,运用CARIS LOTS 4.0划界软件,对《联合国海洋法公约》第76条中2大重要地质因素——大陆坡脚位置和沉积物厚度进行了分析和研究,对孟加拉海底扇、蒙特利尔海底扇及印度海底扇3个全球典型的海底扇进行了外大陆架区域的划界分析,探讨了海底扇的发育及其对地貌的改造作用,以及对划界结果可能造成的影响。结果显示,影响海底扇发育的3大主要因素——构造环境、沉积物供给和海平面变化,使大陆坡脚位置的确定成为大陆架划界工作中面临的首要且关键的问题,对外大陆架的划界结果有潜在影响。而海底扇复杂的地质背景和特征,无疑对划界时使用《联合国海洋法公约》中的规定条款提出了新的挑战。在考虑海底扇影响的前提之下,陆坡坡脚位置会因其地形的变化向前推进或后退,峡谷和水道的分布对选区剖面确定最大坡折点的位置也会带来较大影响。因此,在外大陆架划界工作中,不但需要考虑《联合国海洋法公约》中的法律条款,海底扇及影响其形态、分布等3大重要因素的规律性,也是未来划界工作中需要进一步深入研究的重要问题。     

Distribution of hornblende on the Atlantic continental shelf off Georgia, United States

Hornblende is the least stable, and most diagnostic, mineral of the sediment blanketing the continental shelf off Georgia, U.S.A. Recent work by others has shown that the probable sources of hornblende-rich sands on the shelf are the Savannah and Altamaha Rivers, both of which originate in the southern Appalachian piedmont. Rivers with drainage basins confined to the coastal plain carry stable, low-hornblende heavy-mineral assemblages and contribute sediment to the shelf only during episodes of regression or transgression. Distribution of hornblende on the continental shelf reveals the importance of the Altamaha and Savannah Rivers, especially the Savannah, as sources of sediment. It is postulated that original point concentrations of hornblende-rich sand associated with Late Pleistocene deltas or estuaries of the Savannah River have been modified by southwest currents, possibly during winter storms. The resulting configuration is a series of northeast-trending, linear high-hornblende anomalies. The origin of the hornblende-distribution anomalies probably is identical to the origin of linear shoals that also trend northeast across the continental shelf.     

世界及我国外大陆架划界面临挑战

当前，200海里外大陆架划界问题已经成为海洋法领域新的热点问题。200海里外大陆架外部界限划定，不仅关系到沿海国的主权权利，同样与各国的经济利益相联系。深海中丰富的矿藏，对于沿海国的经济发展有着重要的意义。国际上要求1999年5月6日之前批准《联合国海洋法公约》(以下简称《公约》)并生效的国家，在2009年5月6日之前必须完     

Some evidences of northward fine sediment transport in the northern portuguese continental shelf

On the basis of sedimentological and oceanographical data, a transport scheme for fine-grained material is proposed in order to explain the location of a muddy deposit present in the northern Portuguese continental shelf, north-west off the Douro River mouth. This mid-shelf deposit is recent, active and its main source is apparently the Douro River. The sediment supply can be related with the oceanographic conditions in winter regime, characterised by a poleward along-shelf current with a bottom westward component, as a consequence of a south-west wind. The resulting fine sediment transport, essentially made in the bottom nepheloid layer, is believed to have a north-west direction.