About this Research Topic

Background

A recent break-through in sedimentological research is the application of the source-to-sink approach to the study of continental margin evolution. The continental slope is perceived to mainly experience sediment bypass. While true in the long term, the net bypass character of the slope is the result of alternation at various time-scales of deposition and erosion. Although prevailing depositional, the same applies to the basin-plain, which can be affected by erosion. A diverse capacity of sediment storage and redistribution is a characteristic of the deep-sea, and consequently sediment routing may be divided into discrete cells with different sedimentary behaviour, due to a variety of processes, some affecting the land and the shelf, some the slope and the basin-plain. Amongst those occurring in the deep-sea, a major role is played by tectonics which may modify seafloor topography, this in turn dictates where and when sediments are generated or stored in the deep-sea.

This Research Topic aims to bring together contributions that investigate the distribution of erosion and deposition in the deep-sea and to explore its linkage with tectonic activity and structural evolution. In particular, we would like to assemble a showcase of the range of processes (e.g. contour currents, turbidity currents, mass-wasting), geomorphic elements (e.g. canyons, basins) and stratigraphic architectures (e.g. channels, lobes) that are indicative of tectonic shaping of the deep-sea environment across a range of tectonic settings, e.g. extension, convergence, strike-slip. The resulting collection will form an anthology of Original Research and Reviews, to better constrain sediment routing systems in the slope and basin-plain and to contribute concepts and ideas for the advancement of future source-to-sink studies.

In general, we seek papers that focus on the investigation of the role of tectonics and related seafloor topography in:

• Erosional and depositional phases during the life-cycle of submarine canyons;
• Canyon head progradation and retrogradation and consequent variations in sediment routing;
• Shelf edge processes, slope aprons and slope channel inception;
• Sediment collapse and accumulation of remobilized sediment;
• Evolution of single sediment-gravity flows and facies tracts development;
• Development of geomorphic elements and the creation of the internal architecture of submarine channel infill;
• Sediment partitioning between submarine channels and levees;
• Overbank region building and destruction; channel-floor erosional or depositional bedform development;
• Channel mouth processes and turbidite system retrogradation and progradation;
• Basin-plain lobe development; and
• Interactions between basin stratigraphy and salt deformation processes

Keywords: seafloor topography, sediment-gravity flow, deep-water fan, submarine canyon, submarine channel

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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