Submarine Canyon Sedimentation in Monterey Canyon, California

Submarine canyons are major conduits for sand transport from the land to the deep sea. As such they form a fundamental component of the sediment cycle. The fans at the base of canyons also form potential reservoirs. The processes of canyon sedimentation are poorly understood but are being investigated using remotely operated submarine vehicles by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. At royal Holloway, we are attempting to constrain the timing and frequency of sand transport down the canyon using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating. At present the timing of sediment movement down canyon is very poorly understood.