Sediment transport mechanisms revealed by quantitative analyses of seafloor morphology: New evidence from multibeam bathymetry of the Israel exclusive economic zone

Mor Kanari; Gideon Tibor; John K. Hall; Tomer Ketter; Guy Lang; Uri Schattner

doi:10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2020.104224

Sediment transport mechanisms revealed by quantitative analyses of seafloor morphology: New evidence from multibeam bathymetry of the Israel exclusive economic zone

Mor Kanari, Gideon Tibor, John K. Hall, Tomer Ketter, Guy Lang, Uri Schattner

Department of Marine Geosciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

This study synthesizes 15 years (2001–2016) of detailed multibeam hydrographic mapping covering the entire 26,500 km² of the Israeli Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Multibeam data were collected on-board three research vessels across the continental shelf, slope, and the deep Levant basin; between water depths of about 15 m to 2100 m. Single-channel 3.5 kHz seismic reflection chirp profiles were collected simultaneously with the multibeam surveys in selected parts of the area. The new data enabled the first comprehensive quantitative seafloor morphological analysis of the slope and deep basin. Using GIS techniques on the high-resolution multibeam data, we analyze the spatial distribution and quantitatively describe the seafloor morphologies in detail. High-resolution chirp seismic profiles demonstrate the underlying shallow structure. Results indicate that the seabed comprises five main morphologies: folds, faults, sediment waves, deepwater channels, and sediment fan lobes. Quantitative morphological analysis and seismic data interpretation were used to derive field relations between these morphologies, which along with previously collected multi-channel seismic reflection data, suggest that a concentric fold geometry formed around the Nile outlet during the late Pliocene to early Pleistocene, as part of a general thin-skin radial salt-tectonic deformation above the Messinian mobile unit. This radial motion was accompanied by displacement along NNE-trending strike-slip faults in the basin, and an extensional component across E-W trending strike-slip faults along the Levant margin. While some of these displacements continue to deform the modern seabed (across Area A), others are covered by a wedge of Quaternary deposits, mainly in the northeastern part of the basin (Area B). Areas A and B also differ in grain size distribution, as indicated by backscatter analysis of the multibeam data. These observations divide the Israeli EEZ into two distinct areas: (Area A) Nile derived siliciclastic sediments transported directly into the deep basin via confined (forming meandering channels and overbank deposits) and unconfined flows (forming fans and lobes). The wedge consisting of Area B was fed by erosion products of the Nile outlet that were transported northwards along the continental shelf by seafloor currents of the Levant Jet System, and glided down the northern Levant continental slope as turbidity currents. This supply built at least seven sequences of Quaternary sediment waves that form upslope migrating cyclic steps. The complete data coverage and quantitative morphological analysis presented here introduce new spatial and temporal constraints that call for a reexamination of previous seabed sampling locations not accounting for detailed bathymetry, and to augment future seabed sampling efforts, understanding the sediment supply paths across the basin, and the geomorphological footprint of salt tectonics processes.

Original language	English
Article number	104224
Journal	Marine and Petroleum Geology
Volume	114
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2020.104224
State	Published - Apr 2020

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The preparation of the hydrographic map presented here involved many people over several phases of the bathymetric surveys in Israel. The authors are indebted to all of them. We thank the crews of the R/V Etziona, R/V Mediterranean Explorer and R/V Bat Galim, Gideon Amit, and Ronnie Sade. We thank Ilan Nissim, Miki Gardosh and Shachaf Lippman from the Natural Resources Administration in the Israel Ministry of Energy for their help. The National Bathymetric Survey (Phases I-II) was privately funded by JKH. The Deep Sea Survey (Phase III) was funded by the Israel Ministry of Energy. We thank Geoteric for providing the academic license used for the spectral decomposition analysis. We thank the editor, John Goff and an anonymous reviewer for their constructive comments that have significantly improved the manuscript.

Funding Information:
The preparation of the hydrographic map presented here involved many people over several phases of the bathymetric surveys in Israel. The authors are indebted to all of them. We thank the crews of the R/V Etziona , R/V Mediterranean Explorer and R/V Bat Galim , Gideon Amit, and Ronnie Sade. We thank Ilan Nissim, Miki Gardosh and Shachaf Lippman from the Natural Resources Administration in the Israel Ministry of Energy for their help. The National Bathymetric Survey (Phases I-II) was privately funded by JKH. The Deep Sea Survey (Phase III) was funded by the Israel Ministry of Energy . We thank Geoteric for providing the academic license used for the spectral decomposition analysis. We thank the editor, John Goff and an anonymous reviewer for their constructive comments that have significantly improved the manuscript. Appendix A

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Elsevier Ltd

Keywords

Eastern mediterranean
GIS spatial analysis
Multibeam bathymetry
Salt tectonics
Seafloor geomorphology
Sediment transport

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Oceanography
Geophysics
Geology
Economic Geology
Stratigraphy

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10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2020.104224

Cite this

@article{5ddd1729794c4f4f9150453403986e4a,

title = "Sediment transport mechanisms revealed by quantitative analyses of seafloor morphology: New evidence from multibeam bathymetry of the Israel exclusive economic zone",

abstract = "This study synthesizes 15 years (2001–2016) of detailed multibeam hydrographic mapping covering the entire 26,500 km2 of the Israeli Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Multibeam data were collected on-board three research vessels across the continental shelf, slope, and the deep Levant basin; between water depths of about 15 m to 2100 m. Single-channel 3.5 kHz seismic reflection chirp profiles were collected simultaneously with the multibeam surveys in selected parts of the area. The new data enabled the first comprehensive quantitative seafloor morphological analysis of the slope and deep basin. Using GIS techniques on the high-resolution multibeam data, we analyze the spatial distribution and quantitatively describe the seafloor morphologies in detail. High-resolution chirp seismic profiles demonstrate the underlying shallow structure. Results indicate that the seabed comprises five main morphologies: folds, faults, sediment waves, deepwater channels, and sediment fan lobes. Quantitative morphological analysis and seismic data interpretation were used to derive field relations between these morphologies, which along with previously collected multi-channel seismic reflection data, suggest that a concentric fold geometry formed around the Nile outlet during the late Pliocene to early Pleistocene, as part of a general thin-skin radial salt-tectonic deformation above the Messinian mobile unit. This radial motion was accompanied by displacement along NNE-trending strike-slip faults in the basin, and an extensional component across E-W trending strike-slip faults along the Levant margin. While some of these displacements continue to deform the modern seabed (across Area A), others are covered by a wedge of Quaternary deposits, mainly in the northeastern part of the basin (Area B). Areas A and B also differ in grain size distribution, as indicated by backscatter analysis of the multibeam data. These observations divide the Israeli EEZ into two distinct areas: (Area A) Nile derived siliciclastic sediments transported directly into the deep basin via confined (forming meandering channels and overbank deposits) and unconfined flows (forming fans and lobes). The wedge consisting of Area B was fed by erosion products of the Nile outlet that were transported northwards along the continental shelf by seafloor currents of the Levant Jet System, and glided down the northern Levant continental slope as turbidity currents. This supply built at least seven sequences of Quaternary sediment waves that form upslope migrating cyclic steps. The complete data coverage and quantitative morphological analysis presented here introduce new spatial and temporal constraints that call for a reexamination of previous seabed sampling locations not accounting for detailed bathymetry, and to augment future seabed sampling efforts, understanding the sediment supply paths across the basin, and the geomorphological footprint of salt tectonics processes.",

keywords = "Eastern mediterranean, GIS spatial analysis, Multibeam bathymetry, Salt tectonics, Seafloor geomorphology, Sediment transport",

author = "Mor Kanari and Gideon Tibor and Hall, {John K.} and Tomer Ketter and Guy Lang and Uri Schattner",

note = "Funding Information: The preparation of the hydrographic map presented here involved many people over several phases of the bathymetric surveys in Israel. The authors are indebted to all of them. We thank the crews of the R/V Etziona, R/V Mediterranean Explorer and R/V Bat Galim, Gideon Amit, and Ronnie Sade. We thank Ilan Nissim, Miki Gardosh and Shachaf Lippman from the Natural Resources Administration in the Israel Ministry of Energy for their help. The National Bathymetric Survey (Phases I-II) was privately funded by JKH. The Deep Sea Survey (Phase III) was funded by the Israel Ministry of Energy. We thank Geoteric for providing the academic license used for the spectral decomposition analysis. We thank the editor, John Goff and an anonymous reviewer for their constructive comments that have significantly improved the manuscript. Funding Information: The preparation of the hydrographic map presented here involved many people over several phases of the bathymetric surveys in Israel. The authors are indebted to all of them. We thank the crews of the R/V Etziona , R/V Mediterranean Explorer and R/V Bat Galim , Gideon Amit, and Ronnie Sade. We thank Ilan Nissim, Miki Gardosh and Shachaf Lippman from the Natural Resources Administration in the Israel Ministry of Energy for their help. The National Bathymetric Survey (Phases I-II) was privately funded by JKH. The Deep Sea Survey (Phase III) was funded by the Israel Ministry of Energy . We thank Geoteric for providing the academic license used for the spectral decomposition analysis. We thank the editor, John Goff and an anonymous reviewer for their constructive comments that have significantly improved the manuscript. Appendix A Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020 Elsevier Ltd",

year = "2020",

month = apr,

doi = "10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2020.104224",

language = "English",

volume = "114",

journal = "Marine and Petroleum Geology",

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T1 - Sediment transport mechanisms revealed by quantitative analyses of seafloor morphology

T2 - New evidence from multibeam bathymetry of the Israel exclusive economic zone

AU - Kanari, Mor

AU - Tibor, Gideon

AU - Hall, John K.

AU - Ketter, Tomer

AU - Lang, Guy

AU - Schattner, Uri

N1 - Funding Information: The preparation of the hydrographic map presented here involved many people over several phases of the bathymetric surveys in Israel. The authors are indebted to all of them. We thank the crews of the R/V Etziona, R/V Mediterranean Explorer and R/V Bat Galim, Gideon Amit, and Ronnie Sade. We thank Ilan Nissim, Miki Gardosh and Shachaf Lippman from the Natural Resources Administration in the Israel Ministry of Energy for their help. The National Bathymetric Survey (Phases I-II) was privately funded by JKH. The Deep Sea Survey (Phase III) was funded by the Israel Ministry of Energy. We thank Geoteric for providing the academic license used for the spectral decomposition analysis. We thank the editor, John Goff and an anonymous reviewer for their constructive comments that have significantly improved the manuscript. Funding Information: The preparation of the hydrographic map presented here involved many people over several phases of the bathymetric surveys in Israel. The authors are indebted to all of them. We thank the crews of the R/V Etziona , R/V Mediterranean Explorer and R/V Bat Galim , Gideon Amit, and Ronnie Sade. We thank Ilan Nissim, Miki Gardosh and Shachaf Lippman from the Natural Resources Administration in the Israel Ministry of Energy for their help. The National Bathymetric Survey (Phases I-II) was privately funded by JKH. The Deep Sea Survey (Phase III) was funded by the Israel Ministry of Energy . We thank Geoteric for providing the academic license used for the spectral decomposition analysis. We thank the editor, John Goff and an anonymous reviewer for their constructive comments that have significantly improved the manuscript. Appendix A Publisher Copyright: © 2020 Elsevier Ltd

PY - 2020/4

Y1 - 2020/4

N2 - This study synthesizes 15 years (2001–2016) of detailed multibeam hydrographic mapping covering the entire 26,500 km2 of the Israeli Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Multibeam data were collected on-board three research vessels across the continental shelf, slope, and the deep Levant basin; between water depths of about 15 m to 2100 m. Single-channel 3.5 kHz seismic reflection chirp profiles were collected simultaneously with the multibeam surveys in selected parts of the area. The new data enabled the first comprehensive quantitative seafloor morphological analysis of the slope and deep basin. Using GIS techniques on the high-resolution multibeam data, we analyze the spatial distribution and quantitatively describe the seafloor morphologies in detail. High-resolution chirp seismic profiles demonstrate the underlying shallow structure. Results indicate that the seabed comprises five main morphologies: folds, faults, sediment waves, deepwater channels, and sediment fan lobes. Quantitative morphological analysis and seismic data interpretation were used to derive field relations between these morphologies, which along with previously collected multi-channel seismic reflection data, suggest that a concentric fold geometry formed around the Nile outlet during the late Pliocene to early Pleistocene, as part of a general thin-skin radial salt-tectonic deformation above the Messinian mobile unit. This radial motion was accompanied by displacement along NNE-trending strike-slip faults in the basin, and an extensional component across E-W trending strike-slip faults along the Levant margin. While some of these displacements continue to deform the modern seabed (across Area A), others are covered by a wedge of Quaternary deposits, mainly in the northeastern part of the basin (Area B). Areas A and B also differ in grain size distribution, as indicated by backscatter analysis of the multibeam data. These observations divide the Israeli EEZ into two distinct areas: (Area A) Nile derived siliciclastic sediments transported directly into the deep basin via confined (forming meandering channels and overbank deposits) and unconfined flows (forming fans and lobes). The wedge consisting of Area B was fed by erosion products of the Nile outlet that were transported northwards along the continental shelf by seafloor currents of the Levant Jet System, and glided down the northern Levant continental slope as turbidity currents. This supply built at least seven sequences of Quaternary sediment waves that form upslope migrating cyclic steps. The complete data coverage and quantitative morphological analysis presented here introduce new spatial and temporal constraints that call for a reexamination of previous seabed sampling locations not accounting for detailed bathymetry, and to augment future seabed sampling efforts, understanding the sediment supply paths across the basin, and the geomorphological footprint of salt tectonics processes.

AB - This study synthesizes 15 years (2001–2016) of detailed multibeam hydrographic mapping covering the entire 26,500 km2 of the Israeli Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Multibeam data were collected on-board three research vessels across the continental shelf, slope, and the deep Levant basin; between water depths of about 15 m to 2100 m. Single-channel 3.5 kHz seismic reflection chirp profiles were collected simultaneously with the multibeam surveys in selected parts of the area. The new data enabled the first comprehensive quantitative seafloor morphological analysis of the slope and deep basin. Using GIS techniques on the high-resolution multibeam data, we analyze the spatial distribution and quantitatively describe the seafloor morphologies in detail. High-resolution chirp seismic profiles demonstrate the underlying shallow structure. Results indicate that the seabed comprises five main morphologies: folds, faults, sediment waves, deepwater channels, and sediment fan lobes. Quantitative morphological analysis and seismic data interpretation were used to derive field relations between these morphologies, which along with previously collected multi-channel seismic reflection data, suggest that a concentric fold geometry formed around the Nile outlet during the late Pliocene to early Pleistocene, as part of a general thin-skin radial salt-tectonic deformation above the Messinian mobile unit. This radial motion was accompanied by displacement along NNE-trending strike-slip faults in the basin, and an extensional component across E-W trending strike-slip faults along the Levant margin. While some of these displacements continue to deform the modern seabed (across Area A), others are covered by a wedge of Quaternary deposits, mainly in the northeastern part of the basin (Area B). Areas A and B also differ in grain size distribution, as indicated by backscatter analysis of the multibeam data. These observations divide the Israeli EEZ into two distinct areas: (Area A) Nile derived siliciclastic sediments transported directly into the deep basin via confined (forming meandering channels and overbank deposits) and unconfined flows (forming fans and lobes). The wedge consisting of Area B was fed by erosion products of the Nile outlet that were transported northwards along the continental shelf by seafloor currents of the Levant Jet System, and glided down the northern Levant continental slope as turbidity currents. This supply built at least seven sequences of Quaternary sediment waves that form upslope migrating cyclic steps. The complete data coverage and quantitative morphological analysis presented here introduce new spatial and temporal constraints that call for a reexamination of previous seabed sampling locations not accounting for detailed bathymetry, and to augment future seabed sampling efforts, understanding the sediment supply paths across the basin, and the geomorphological footprint of salt tectonics processes.

KW - Eastern mediterranean

KW - GIS spatial analysis

KW - Multibeam bathymetry

KW - Salt tectonics

KW - Seafloor geomorphology

KW - Sediment transport

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DO - 10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2020.104224

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Sediment transport mechanisms revealed by quantitative analyses of seafloor morphology: New evidence from multibeam bathymetry of the Israel exclusive economic zone

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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