Continental shelves, slopes and rises are dissected by submarine canyons
Deep, V-shaped valleys eroded into shelves, slopes and, to a lesser degree, rises
Some submarine canyons abut or connect with rivers that flow off continents
- Sediment-charged river water in turbidity currents flows down canyon, eroding a continuation of the river
Some submarine canyons are ‘headless’
- Headless canyons often have periodic spacing along the continental margin
- Are inferred form where a high water table leads to weakening of sediments and sedimentary rocks, which causes slope failure