Benthic biology influences sedimentation in submarine channel bends: Coupling of biology, sedimentation and flow

Author:

Azpiroz‐Zabala M.123ORCID,Sumner E. J.3,Cartigny M. J. B.4,Peakall J.5,Clare M. A.1,Darby S. E.6,Parsons D. R.7,Dorrell R. M.7,Özsoy E.89,Tezcan D.9,Wynn R. B.3,Johnson J.7

Affiliation:

1. National Oceanography Centre of Southampton Southampton UK

2. Arquimea Research Center Edif.Nanotec. Parque Urbano Las Mantecas Santa Cruz de Tenerife Spain

3. School of Ocean and Earth Science University of Southampton Southampton UK

4. Geography Department University of Durham Durham UK

5. School of Earth and Environment University of Leeds Leeds UK

6. School of Geography and Environmental Sciences University of Southampton Southampton UK

7. Energy and Environment Institute University of Hull Hull UK

8. Eurasia Institute of Earth Science İstanbul Technical University Istanbul Turkey

9. Institute of Marine Sciences Middle East Technical University Mersin Turkey

Abstract

AbstractSubmarine channels are key features for the transport of flow and nutrients into deep water. Previous studies of their morphology and channel evolution have treated these systems as abiotic, and therefore assume that physical processes are solely responsible for morphological development. Here, a unique dataset is utilised that includes spatial measurements around a channel bend that hosts active sediment gravity flows. The data include flow velocity and density, alongside bed grain size and channel‐floor benthic macrofauna. Analysis of these parameters demonstrate that while physical processes control the broadest scale variations in sedimentation around and across the channel, benthic biology plays a critical role in stabilising sediment and trapping fines. This leads to much broader mixed grain sizes than would be expected from purely abiotic sedimentation, and the maintenance of sediment beds in positions where all the sediment should be actively migrating. Given that previous work has also shown that submarine channels can be biological hotspots, then the present study suggests that benthic biology probably plays a key role in channel morphology and evolution, and that these need to be considered both in the modern and when considering examples preserved in the rock record.

Funder

Natural Environment Research Council

Publisher

Wiley

Subject

Paleontology,Stratigraphy,Geology,Environmental Science (miscellaneous),Oceanography

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3