Geo-Marine Letters

, Volume 6, Issue 1, pp 7–13 | Cite as

Transverse infilling of the central Aleutian Trench by unconfined turbidity currents

  • Michael B. Underwood
Article
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Revised:

Abstract

Holocene sand layers cored from the central Aleutian Trench are dominated by volcaniclastic debris, and the only likely source is the central Aleutian volcanic arc. This creates something of an enigma because bathymetric obstructions seemingly prevent direct delivery of sediment via transverse canyons or channels. Turbidity currents are funneled through submarine canyons on the upper trench slope, but the flows become unconfined as they cross the midslope Aleutian Terrace. Evidently, the turbid flows maintain high enough velocities to climb over the trench-slope break; acceleration down the lower trench slope then allows forearc bypassing to occur without the aid of through-going channels.

Keywords

Turbidity Holocene Trench Sand Layer Volcaniclastic 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag New York Inc 1986

Authors and Affiliations

  • Michael B. Underwood
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of GeologyUniversity of MissouriColumbia

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