Skip to main content
Log in

Submarine debris flow deposits detected by long-range side-scan sonar 1,000-kilometers from source

  • Published:
Geo-Marine Letters Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Debris flow deposits of large aerial extent have been detected on the lower continental rise off northwest Africa using GLORIA long-range dual sidescan sonar.

A preliminary interpretation of the sonographs with high-resolution (3.5 kHz) seismic profiles and gravity cores illustrates the potential for spatial mapping of these deposits. The transport directions indicated on the sonographs show that these sediments, emplaced by mass transport, are the downslope continuation of the Saharan Sediment Slide. The distance from an observed “toe” of a debris flow lobe to the most southerly slide scar is of the order of 1,000 km.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Somers, M. L., and others, 1978. GLORIA-II—An improved long-range side-scan sonar. In: Oceanology International, London, pp. 16–24.

  2. Laughton, A. S., 1982. The first decade of GLORIA. Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 86, pp. 11511–11534.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Kidd, R. B., 1982. Long-range sidescan sonar studies of sediment slides and the effects of slope mass sediment movement on abyssal plain sedimentation. In: S. Saxov and J. K. Nieuwenhuis (eds.), Marine Slides and Other Mass Movements. Plenum Press, New York, pp. 289–303.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Kidd, R. B. and Roberts, D. G., 1982. Long-range sidescan sonar studies of large-scale sedimentary features in the North Atlantic. Geological Society of Aquitaine Bulletin, v. 31, pp. 11–29.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Kidd, R. B., and Searle, R. C., 1983. Sedimentation in the southern Cape Verde Basin: Regional observations by long-range sidescan sonar. In: Stow, D. A. V. and Piper, D. J. W. (eds.), Fine Grained Sediments. Special Publication Geological Society of London, in press.

  6. Stride, A. H., Belderson, R. H., and Kenyon, N. H., 1982. Structural grain, mud volcanoes and other features on the Barbados ridge complex revealed by GLORIA long-range sidescan sonar. Marine Geology, v. 49, pp. 187–196.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Embley, R. W., 1975. Studies of deep sea sedimentation processes using high frequency seismic data. Doctoral thesis, Columbia University, New York, 334 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Embley, R. W., 1976. New evidence for the occurrence of debris flow deposits in the deep sea. Geology, v. 4, pp. 371–374.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Embley, R. W., 1980. The role of mass transport in the distribution and character of deep ocean sediments with special reference to the North Atlantic. Marine Geology, v. 38, pp. 23–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Embley, R. W., and Jacobi, R. D., 1977. Distribution and morphology of large submarine sediment slides and slumps on Atlantic continental margins. Marine Geotechnology, v. 2, pp. 205–228.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Damuth, J. E., 1980. Use of high frequency (3.5 kHz-12 kHz) echograms in the study of near-bottom sedimentation processes in the deep sea: A review. Marine Geology, v. 38, pp. 51–75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Jacobi, R. D., and Hayes, D. E., 1982. Bathymetry, micro-physiography and reflectivity characteristics of the West African margin between Sierra Leone and Mauritania. In: U. Von Rad, K. Hinz, M. Sarnthein, and E. Seibold (eds.), Geology of the Northwest African Continental Margin. Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg, pp. 182–212.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Johnson, M. A., 1970. Physical Processes in Geology. Freeman, Cooper and Co., San Francisco, 571 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Embley, R. W., and Hayes, D. E., 1974. Giant submarine slump south of the Canaries. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 6, pp. 721.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Embley, R. W., 1982. Anatomy of some Atlantic margin sediment slides and some comments on ages and mechanisms. In: S. Saxov and J. K. Neiuwenhuis (eds.), Marine Slides and Other Mass Movements. Plenum Press, New York, pp. 189–214.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Simm, R.W., Kidd, R.B. Submarine debris flow deposits detected by long-range side-scan sonar 1,000-kilometers from source. Geo-Marine Letters 3, 13–16 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02463436

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02463436

Keywords

Navigation