Wave-Base, Marine Profile of Equilibrium, and Wave-Built Terraces: Reply

Research Article| December 01, 1964 WAVE-BASE, MARINE PROFILE OF EQUILIBRIUM, AND WAVE-BUILT TERRACES: REPLY ROBERT S DIETZ ROBERT S DIETZ U. S. COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY, WASHINGTON, D. C. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar GSA Bulletin (1964) 75 (12): 1275–1281. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1964)75[1275:WMPOEA]2.0.CO;2 Article history received: 11 Feb 1964 first online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation ROBERT S DIETZ; WAVE-BASE, MARINE PROFILE OF EQUILIBRIUM, AND WAVE-BUILT TERRACES: REPLY. GSA Bulletin 1964;; 75 (12): 1275–1281. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1964)75[1275:WMPOEA]2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract This paper is a reply to the critique by David G. Moore and Joseph R. Curray (1964) of my paper “Wave-base, marine profile of equilibrium, and wave-built terraces: A critical appraisal.” Our points of difference seem only to involve minor aspects and emphasis.In contrast to Moore and Curray, I doubt the importance of continental terrace prograding. Even for the example they cite off Norfolk, Virginia, this extension of the terrace is shown to be only slight. Although I do not deny the existence of some open-shelf and continental-slope deposition, I consider their volume to be greatly less than either paralic or continental-rise deposition.I re-emphasize that wave-base can only be of minor and subtle geologic importance and does not control the building of the continental terrace. In contrast, surf-base exerts a strong influence. In common with earlier writers, Moore and Curray fail to specify the depth of wave-base or its exact position on the self profile; therefore their concept of wave-base remains vague. I suggest placing wave-base at the shelf break, regardless of its depth. Actually the realm of sea-water agitation extends deeper than shelf depths everywhere, hence shelf deposits tend to be sorted or “above wave-base” as this term is used by stratigraphers. Beyond the shelf break the gradient of the continental slope probably exerts a stronger influence on sediment facies than does the degree of water agitation. In this context, wave-base is controlled by topography and not topography by wave-base. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.