Submarine canyon development controlled by slope failure and oceanographic process interactions

Abstract

The southeastern Australian margin hosts a series of submarine canyons. Although the origin and evolution of canyons within the northwestern segment of the margin is relatively well studied, their quantitative morphology, interaction with longshore drift currents and slope failure remain poorly understood in the southeastern region. In this study, high-resolution bathymetry and 3D seismic reflection datasets revealed five main submarine canyons present in the central offshore Otway Basin. The canyons have V-shaped, evolving to U-shaped morphology downslope with sedimentary infill characterized by medium–high amplitudes, recognizable stratal pattern and localized chaotic seismic reflections. Analysis reveals these canyons were initiated by retrogressive slope failure on the continental slope, that once the shelf edge was reached and subsequently incised, development of the canyon heads was influenced by the shelf parallel Zeehan Current, active on the continental shelf of the region. The heads of the shelf-incised canyons preferentially migrate northwestward and were infilled by laterally accreting sedimentary packages characterized by southeast dipping seismic reflections. These indicate an early erosive phase followed by a period of deposition, a result of the prevalent eastward flowing Zeehan Current. These results have important implications for understanding of the mechanisms that control initiation and development of submarine canyons, and their morphology, both offshore southeastern Australia, and similar settings on continental margins worldwide.