Submarine slope angles, drowning unconformities, and self-erosion of limestone escarpments

Research Article| September 01, 1986 Submarine slope angles, drowning unconformities, and self-erosion of limestone escarpments Wolfgang Schlager; Wolfgang Schlager 1University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, Florida 33149 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Oren Camber Oren Camber 1University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, Florida 33149 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Wolfgang Schlager 1University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, Florida 33149 Oren Camber 1University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, Florida 33149 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1986) 14 (9): 762–765. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1986)14<762:SSADUA>2.0.CO;2 Article history First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Wolfgang Schlager, Oren Camber; Submarine slope angles, drowning unconformities, and self-erosion of limestone escarpments. Geology 1986;; 14 (9): 762–765. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1986)14<762:SSADUA>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 SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract We measured angle and height of carbonate platform slopes in the Pacific and the Atlantic and of siliciclastic continental slopes in the Atlantic. We also determined depositional regime and sediment budget of these slopes by using seismic profiles, morphology, and sediment cover. Slopes of carbonate platforms are significantly steeper than submarine slopes in siliciclastic terrains. Carbonate slopes are concave in profile; siliciclastic slopes are slightly convex or straight. The angle of carbonate slopes increases with height; the angle of siliciclastic slopes does not. The increase in slope angle of upward-growing carbonate platforms changes the sediment budget and depositional regime from accretionary slopes that have positive budget to erosional slopes that have negative budget. Oversteepening of carbonate platforms has important implications. (1) Drowning and burial of carbonate platforms by siliciclastics can produce a “drowning unconformity” that simulates a fall in sea level with seaward shift in onlap. (2) Upper slopes of high-rising platforms can be so steep that accretion is impossible, and instead, the slope is being eroded by slumps and turbidity currents from the platforms' own sediment. This self-erosion is the prime cause of the conspicuous limestone escarpments in modern oceans. 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.