The ocean floor near the base of rivers

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SUMMARY

The ocean floor near the base of rivers features canyons that appear to be carved by river systems, indicating significant geological activity. The primary theories explaining their formation include the erosion caused by turbidity currents, which are underwater landslides, and the possibility that these ocean floors were once above sea level in the geologic past. Some canyons extend to depths of 3000 meters below current sea levels, suggesting a complex interplay of both erosion mechanisms over time.

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  • Understanding of geological processes, specifically erosion
  • Familiarity with turbidity currents and their effects on sediment transport
  • Knowledge of oceanography and sea floor mapping techniques
  • Basic concepts of geological time and sea level changes
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  • Research the mechanisms of turbidity currents and their role in sediment erosion
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Geologists, oceanographers, environmental scientists, and anyone interested in the interactions between river systems and ocean floor geology.

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When I look at a map which shows the sea floors I see canons at the base of large rivers which tend to fork out and travel long across the ocean floor. It looks very much like they were carved by the river. What are these and what caused them?
 
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Yes You're right indeed. Would it be an idea that those ocean floors were above sealevel in the geologic past?
 
The other main theory is that turbitidy currents (underwater landslides) are mainly responsible for their erosion, as some extend far deeper then sea level has ever been known to fall to during ice ages (3000m below the surface). In reality, a combination of the two may be responsible.

http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/may2001/988903442.Es.r.html
 

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