Terraces on the Florida escarpment: Implications for erosional processes

Journal Article · Sun Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Geology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1991)019<0897:TOTFEI>2.3.CO;2· OSTI ID:5996792

Twichell, D C ^[1]; Paull, C K ^[2]; Parson, L M ^[3]

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1. Geological Survey, Woods Hole, MA (United States)
2. Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (United States)
3. Inst. of Oceanographic Sciences, Surrey (England)

SeaBeam bathymetric data and GLORIA (Geologic LOng-Range Inclined Asdic) sidescan sonar images of a 175-km-long section of the Florida escarpment in the eastern Gulf of Mexico show that this carbonate escarpment has been eroded since its initial formation, but its morphology suggests that erosional processes have not acted uniformly on the escarpment. Parts of the escarpment are notched by box canyons that have extremely steep headwalls and may be sites of active ground-water sapping. The intercanyon areas commonly have previously unrecognized terraces below 2,600 m. Above 2,600 m, the escarpment is steeper and has no terraces. The terraces may reflect differences in platform strata exposed at the escarpment that are responding differently to erosional processes.

• OSTI ID: 5996792
• Journal Information: Geology; (United States), Journal Name: Geology; (United States) Vol. 19:9; ISSN GLGYB; ISSN 0091-7613
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
580000* -- Geosciences
BATHYMETRY
COMPLEX TERRAIN
CONTINENTAL MARGIN
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
EROSION
FEDERAL REGION IV
FLORIDA
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
GEOLOGIC STRATA
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
GEOMORPHOLOGY
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RANGE FINDERS
SONAR
USA
VARIATIONS
WATER