| Summary: | A detailed analysis of all high-resolution reflection seismic profiles shot by Alfred-Wegener-Institut für Polar- und Meeresforschung (AWI) and Renard Centre of Marine Geology (RCMG) in 1987 and 1990 in the southeastern Weddell Sea allowed the identification of three major fan systems (1 to 3) within the Crary Fan, each associated with a well pronounced migrating channel complex. Within these three major fan systems 20 fan sequences could be identified in the study area. Their emplacement on top of a major erosional unconformity most likely occurred during periods of glacial advances, and this probably already from Mid-Oligocene times on. The number of identified sequences and the frequency of changes in depositional regime closely resemble those of the eustatic cycles. It is postulated that the boundaries between the three major fan systems 1 to 3 reflect the limits between the three recent most supercycles (2nd order), and correspond to the Lower Miocene and Middle Miocene sea level drops respectively. Higher order eustatic changes (lowstands) are regarded to account for the emplacement of the 20 individual fan sequences.
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