The northeastern South China Sea margin created by the combined action of down-slope and along-slope processes: Processes, products and implications for exploration and paleoceanography

Flow processes and sedimentation in contourite channels on the northwestern South China Sea margin: A joint 3D seismic and oceanographic perspective

“…Contour-flowing currents of NPDW-CCs are interpreted to play a pivotal role in controlling deep-water sedimentation on the continental slope and the adjacent abyssal plain, resulting in contourite drifts near the ODP site 1144 and fine-grained bottom-current sediment waves on the abyssal plain (e.g., Li et al, 2013;Gong et al, 2015). The effects of NPDW-CCs in controlling sedimentation in contourite channels are the focus of the present study.…”

“…1B and 2). In particular, the current study focuses on curved channels around a pre-existing topographic high seen in bathymetric maps of (Yang et al, 2010;Gong et al, 2015;He et al, 2013) (Fig. 1A).…”

“…Intermediate water circulation is clockwise with an effective depth of 350 to 1350 m, and is characterized by temperature ranges of 7 to 10°C and salinity ranges of 34.35 to 34.43 (Yang et al, 2010;Gong et al, 2015) (Fig.1). Deep-water circulation is counter-clockwise with an effective depth of >1350 m, and has temperature ranges of 2 to 7°C and salinity ranges of ca 34.60 to 34.58 (Yang et al, 2010;Gong et al, 2015) (Fig.1). …”

“…12 currents (i.e., contourite currents) (e.g., Brackenridge et al, 2013;Stow et al, 2013;Hernández-Molina et al, 2014;Gong et al, 2015).…”

“…1A). Geostrophic contour currents usually involve significant water mass over large areas and persist for very long time intervals of up to millions of years (e.g., Shanmugam, 2008;Stow et al, 2008;Gong et al, 2015). This, in turn,…”