Chapter 10 - Epilogue: lessons learned

Abstract

The lesson learned from 540 case studies, involving theoretical, experimental, and empirical datasets, is that it is imperative to acknowledge the variability and complexity of gravity-driven processes in nature. Transitional and hybrid flows are ubiquitous. Criteria for recognizing their deposits are still evolving. Therefore deep-water genetic facies models that were proposed for ideal end-member processes, such as the turbidite facies model, the contourite facies model, and the hyperpycnite facies model, are premature and obsolete. In terms of future research, satellite images that are commonly ignored in dealing with deep-water deposits are as important as other datasets in understanding sediment transport and provenance.