Controls of Submarine Canyons Connected to Shore during the LGM Sea-Level Rise: Examples from Taiwan
During the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) (~20,000 years ago), the sea level was lower than that during the present day by 120 m and the heads of most submarine canyons were close or connected to the coastline or shore, with enhanced terrestrial sediment input due to direct connections with river mouths...
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MDPI AG
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/10/4/494 |
| _version_ | 1797410558662672384 |
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| author | Cheng-Shing Chiang Ho-Shing Yu |
| author_facet | Cheng-Shing Chiang Ho-Shing Yu |
| author_sort | Cheng-Shing Chiang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | During the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) (~20,000 years ago), the sea level was lower than that during the present day by 120 m and the heads of most submarine canyons were close or connected to the coastline or shore, with enhanced terrestrial sediment input due to direct connections with river mouths. This was followed by a relative sea-level rise of 120 m and the migration of coastlines landward. As a result, the heads of some paleo-submarine canyons were no longer near river mouths or connected to the shore. Such canyons became inactive due to the lack of terrestrial sediment input. Only 4% of the world’s submarine canyons reach the coastline and remain active today. Among 13 submarine canyons off the shore of Taiwan, we identified seven (<i>n</i> = 7, 54%) that remain connected to the shore and are active during the present-day highstand. The purpose of this study is to determine the key controls of canyon heads that remain connected to the shore with terrestrial sediment input during the Holocene sea-level rise. As a result of high uplift rates, narrow coastal range, steep gradients, frequent earthquakes, and typhoon development in the Taiwan mountain belt, Taiwan has the highest-yield river and sediment supply. This has led to the transportation of large volumes of sediment to the surrounding deep seas. Narrow steep shelves and large sediment volumes associated with small mountain rivers are the main controls involved in the development of shore-connected canyons on the active Taiwan margin. Shore-connected canyons are present in greater numbers in the major earthquake zone on the eastern Taiwan margin. Frequent earthquake events are another significant factor in the occurrence of shore-connected canyons in the Taiwan region. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:31:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-616f1c1d052641cdb55b779c12ed4f54 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1312 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:31:47Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-616f1c1d052641cdb55b779c12ed4f542023-12-03T13:33:55ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122022-04-0110449410.3390/jmse10040494Controls of Submarine Canyons Connected to Shore during the LGM Sea-Level Rise: Examples from TaiwanCheng-Shing Chiang0Ho-Shing Yu1921 Earthquake Museum of Taiwan, National Museum of Natural Science, Taichung 413004, TaiwanInstitute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, TaiwanDuring the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) (~20,000 years ago), the sea level was lower than that during the present day by 120 m and the heads of most submarine canyons were close or connected to the coastline or shore, with enhanced terrestrial sediment input due to direct connections with river mouths. This was followed by a relative sea-level rise of 120 m and the migration of coastlines landward. As a result, the heads of some paleo-submarine canyons were no longer near river mouths or connected to the shore. Such canyons became inactive due to the lack of terrestrial sediment input. Only 4% of the world’s submarine canyons reach the coastline and remain active today. Among 13 submarine canyons off the shore of Taiwan, we identified seven (<i>n</i> = 7, 54%) that remain connected to the shore and are active during the present-day highstand. The purpose of this study is to determine the key controls of canyon heads that remain connected to the shore with terrestrial sediment input during the Holocene sea-level rise. As a result of high uplift rates, narrow coastal range, steep gradients, frequent earthquakes, and typhoon development in the Taiwan mountain belt, Taiwan has the highest-yield river and sediment supply. This has led to the transportation of large volumes of sediment to the surrounding deep seas. Narrow steep shelves and large sediment volumes associated with small mountain rivers are the main controls involved in the development of shore-connected canyons on the active Taiwan margin. Shore-connected canyons are present in greater numbers in the major earthquake zone on the eastern Taiwan margin. Frequent earthquake events are another significant factor in the occurrence of shore-connected canyons in the Taiwan region.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/10/4/494shore-connected canyonsea-level changesnarrow shelfsediment inputTaiwan |
| spellingShingle | Cheng-Shing Chiang Ho-Shing Yu Controls of Submarine Canyons Connected to Shore during the LGM Sea-Level Rise: Examples from Taiwan Journal of Marine Science and Engineering shore-connected canyon sea-level changes narrow shelf sediment input Taiwan |
| title | Controls of Submarine Canyons Connected to Shore during the LGM Sea-Level Rise: Examples from Taiwan |
| title_full | Controls of Submarine Canyons Connected to Shore during the LGM Sea-Level Rise: Examples from Taiwan |
| title_fullStr | Controls of Submarine Canyons Connected to Shore during the LGM Sea-Level Rise: Examples from Taiwan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Controls of Submarine Canyons Connected to Shore during the LGM Sea-Level Rise: Examples from Taiwan |
| title_short | Controls of Submarine Canyons Connected to Shore during the LGM Sea-Level Rise: Examples from Taiwan |
| title_sort | controls of submarine canyons connected to shore during the lgm sea level rise examples from taiwan |
| topic | shore-connected canyon sea-level changes narrow shelf sediment input Taiwan |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/10/4/494 |
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