AUTHOR=Dobbs Stephen C. , Paull Charles K. , Lundsten Eve M. , Gwiazda Roberto , Caress David W. , McGann Mary , Coholich Marianne M. , Walton Maureen A. L. , Nieminski Nora M. , McHargue Tim , Graham Stephan A. 

TITLE=Sediment gravity flow frequency offshore central California diminished significantly following the Last Glacial Maximum

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Marine Science

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1099472

DOI=10.3389/fmars.2023.1099472

ISSN=2296-7745

ABSTRACT=<p>A high-resolution multibeam survey from a portion of the San Simeon Channel (offshore Morro Bay, California) captured a zone of recurring troughs and ridges adjacent to prominent submarine meander bends. Through an integrated study using surveying data, sediment core analysis, radiocarbon dating, and stable isotope measurements, we hypothesize that turbidity current event frequency was higher during the late Pleistocene than at present conditions. We speculate that the rise in sea-level following the Last Glacial Maximum sequestered sedimentation largely to the shelf during the Holocene. This work suggests that the occurrence of sediment gravity flows in this region, particularly away from any submarine channels, is appreciably lower than at times of continental shelf subaerial exposure.</p>