| The
Wilkes Land continental rise sediment ridges develop within the glacial
sedimentary sequences. These ridges develop between deep-sea channels
that cross the contiental rise, they are elongated in outline and are
arranged in a parallel subparallel N-S to NNE-SSW trend. They are typically
asymmetric in cross-sections that are perpendicular and parallel to
the margin, with a crest that separates a short steeper flank and a
longer gentler. Reflection configurations within the steep flank of
the sediment mounds consist of irregular, discontinuous, undulating
and mounded reflectors, whereas the gentler flank is characterized by
parallel, subparallel and continuous reflector configurations. Mounded
and undulating reflectors suggest contour-current activity. Bottom-currents
(>15 cm/sec) presently sweep the Wilkes Land continental rise from
east to west. A strong bottom nepheloid layer has been recorded on the
continental rise at water depths between 2500-3500 m. |
