Latitudinal changes in submarine channel-levee system evolution, architecture and flow processes
Models of the sedimentary architecture of submarine channel-levee systems and their formative flow processes are predominantly based on studies from low latitude settings. Here, we integrate high-resolution seismic reflection, bathymetry and GLORIA side scan data to document the architecture and int...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:f4e1388a3ed44592b26aabae3214c608 2023-05-15T16:28:44+02:00 Latitudinal changes in submarine channel-levee system evolution, architecture and flow processes Charlotte Allen Jeff Peakall David M. Hodgson Will Bradbury Adam D. Booth 2022-09-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2022.976852 https://doaj.org/article/f4e1388a3ed44592b26aabae3214c608 EN eng Frontiers Media S.A. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2022.976852/full https://doaj.org/toc/2296-6463 2296-6463 doi:10.3389/feart.2022.976852 https://doaj.org/article/f4e1388a3ed44592b26aabae3214c608 Frontiers in Earth Science, Vol 10 (2022) submarine channel channel-levee external levee coriolis force stacking pattern Science Q article 2022 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2022.976852 2022-12-30T21:04:12Z Models of the sedimentary architecture of submarine channel-levee systems and their formative flow processes are predominantly based on studies from low latitude settings. Here, we integrate high-resolution seismic reflection, bathymetry and GLORIA side scan data to document the architecture and interpret the formative processes of a series of ultra-high latitude (72–76°N) submarine channel-levee systems that feed lobe complexes off the Greenland margin. We demonstrate that the sedimentary architecture of the channel-fills are dominated by vertical or near-vertical sediment accumulation, reflecting the lack of, or very limited nature of, lateral migration over time. All the Greenland channel-levee systems show significant cross-sectional asymmetry, and a peak sinuosity of 1.38, on a low gradient slope (∼0.3°). The bounding external levees are very thick (∼200 m) and wide relative to low latitude systems. Comparison of these channel-levee systems with other examples reveals that these characteristics appear to be common to systems in high and ultra-high latitudes, suggesting latitudinal controls in the sedimentary architecture of submarine channel-levee systems. The differences between high- and low-latitude systems is likely due to the interplay of physical forcing (i.e., Coriolis force) and climatic factors that control sediment calibre and flow type, both of which are latitudinally dependent. Several formative mechanisms for supressing the initial phase of lateral migration and subsequent asymmetrical development are proposed, including:i) rapid channel aggradation, (ii) Coriolis forcing causing preferred deposition on the right-hand side of the channel, and iii) variance in flow properties, with traction- and suspension-dominated flows deposited on opposing sides of the channel. We argue that a high latitudinal location of larger channel-levee systems may result in the dominance of vertical stacking of channels, the construction of large external levees, and the development of a low sinuosity planform. Article in Journal/Newspaper Greenland Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Greenland Frontiers in Earth Science 10 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
submarine channel channel-levee external levee coriolis force stacking pattern Science Q |
spellingShingle |
submarine channel channel-levee external levee coriolis force stacking pattern Science Q Charlotte Allen Jeff Peakall David M. Hodgson Will Bradbury Adam D. Booth Latitudinal changes in submarine channel-levee system evolution, architecture and flow processes |
topic_facet |
submarine channel channel-levee external levee coriolis force stacking pattern Science Q |
description |
Models of the sedimentary architecture of submarine channel-levee systems and their formative flow processes are predominantly based on studies from low latitude settings. Here, we integrate high-resolution seismic reflection, bathymetry and GLORIA side scan data to document the architecture and interpret the formative processes of a series of ultra-high latitude (72–76°N) submarine channel-levee systems that feed lobe complexes off the Greenland margin. We demonstrate that the sedimentary architecture of the channel-fills are dominated by vertical or near-vertical sediment accumulation, reflecting the lack of, or very limited nature of, lateral migration over time. All the Greenland channel-levee systems show significant cross-sectional asymmetry, and a peak sinuosity of 1.38, on a low gradient slope (∼0.3°). The bounding external levees are very thick (∼200 m) and wide relative to low latitude systems. Comparison of these channel-levee systems with other examples reveals that these characteristics appear to be common to systems in high and ultra-high latitudes, suggesting latitudinal controls in the sedimentary architecture of submarine channel-levee systems. The differences between high- and low-latitude systems is likely due to the interplay of physical forcing (i.e., Coriolis force) and climatic factors that control sediment calibre and flow type, both of which are latitudinally dependent. Several formative mechanisms for supressing the initial phase of lateral migration and subsequent asymmetrical development are proposed, including:i) rapid channel aggradation, (ii) Coriolis forcing causing preferred deposition on the right-hand side of the channel, and iii) variance in flow properties, with traction- and suspension-dominated flows deposited on opposing sides of the channel. We argue that a high latitudinal location of larger channel-levee systems may result in the dominance of vertical stacking of channels, the construction of large external levees, and the development of a low sinuosity planform. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Charlotte Allen Jeff Peakall David M. Hodgson Will Bradbury Adam D. Booth |
author_facet |
Charlotte Allen Jeff Peakall David M. Hodgson Will Bradbury Adam D. Booth |
author_sort |
Charlotte Allen |
title |
Latitudinal changes in submarine channel-levee system evolution, architecture and flow processes |
title_short |
Latitudinal changes in submarine channel-levee system evolution, architecture and flow processes |
title_full |
Latitudinal changes in submarine channel-levee system evolution, architecture and flow processes |
title_fullStr |
Latitudinal changes in submarine channel-levee system evolution, architecture and flow processes |
title_full_unstemmed |
Latitudinal changes in submarine channel-levee system evolution, architecture and flow processes |
title_sort |
latitudinal changes in submarine channel-levee system evolution, architecture and flow processes |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2022.976852 https://doaj.org/article/f4e1388a3ed44592b26aabae3214c608 |
geographic |
Greenland |
geographic_facet |
Greenland |
genre |
Greenland |
genre_facet |
Greenland |
op_source |
Frontiers in Earth Science, Vol 10 (2022) |
op_relation |
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2022.976852/full https://doaj.org/toc/2296-6463 2296-6463 doi:10.3389/feart.2022.976852 https://doaj.org/article/f4e1388a3ed44592b26aabae3214c608 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2022.976852 |
container_title |
Frontiers in Earth Science |
container_volume |
10 |
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1766018409480323072 |