Governing factors to determine types of submarine fans: Consideration from the model of equilibrium profile of submarine channels

Abstract:

It has been known that submarine fans are diverse in constitutive architectural elements. Leveed channels are common architectural elements of submarine fans but some of submarine fans lack such self-constructive channels. Also, frontal splays that develops at the end of channels cannot be observed in all of submarine fans. Several researches suggested that this diversity of submarine fans is originated from attributes of sediment supply such as ratio between sand and mud. However, quantitative investigation of these phase changes in types of submarine fans has not been explored yet.

Here, this study aims to consider deterministic parameters that govern types of submarine fans, using a theoretical model that assumes submarine channel are in equilibrium condition. The model is based on the 4 equation model of turbidity currents that considers conservation of turbulent kinetic energy. The equilibrium profile is here defined as profiles where turbidity currents are bypassing or depositing uniformly. 1D momentum conservation is considered, and grain-size distribution is approximated to two size classes: channel-forming sands and levee-forming muddy sediments. Widths of channel and levees are calculated from empirical hydraulic geometry. The model predicts length of leveed channels in the equilibrium condition and hydraulic conditions at downstream end of the channels.

As a result, depending on boundary condition at upstream end of channels, three possible cases were recognized: (A) submarine channels in which levee-forming muddy sediments are run out at the end of channel, (B) submarine channels in which sandy sediments are run out, and (C) no possible equilibrium profiles that satisfy empirical hydraulic geometry for given boundary conditions. It can be interpreted that these types of results correspond to submarine channels with/without frontal splays and submarine fans without leveed channels. Essentially three parameters are significant to determine types of submarine channels: sand/mud ratio of supplied sediments, discharge of turbidity currents and rate of aggradation of channels. Although application of this research is reconnaissance, our model may be useful to estimate flow conditions from topographic features of submarine fans and distribution of lithofacies from limited information.