近日，西班牙地质和矿业研究所E. Llave团队研究了底流的间歇性行为：河道和护城河的复杂性。该研究于2025年12月24日发表在《地质学》杂志上。

等深流通道与海槽是深海沉积环境中等深流沉积系统的核心组成部分。全球范围内众多等深流通道与海槽均展现出显著的沉积与地层复杂性，并伴随时间尺度上的动态变化。形态上的显著转变直接体现在沉积叠置模式在空间和时间上的演变。等深流通道的演化始于台地上的浅洼地，此时以垂向加积的沉积叠置模式为主，随后逐步发育为既具垂向加积又具前积形态的狭窄深海槽，期间经历下切与充填阶段。此外，相分布的变化也反映了通道及海槽内部与沿线的演化变迁。这些演变刻画了底流由弱到强的长期转变过程，其间穿插着千年及亚千年尺度的间歇性活动。这一过程受控于多种海洋学与构造作用，它们共同影响着底流动力与沉积物供给。

研究组基于加的斯湾（位于伊比利亚半岛西南部）北缘中陆坡地区的上新世—第四纪等深流通道与海槽实例，阐释了这些概念。在该区域，边缘的古地貌（尤其是海底峡谷的存在）以及地中海溢出水的短期间歇性与变化性，共同影响了通道与海槽的演化。本研究为理解等深流沉积系统提供了新的视角，特别是在认识等深流通道与海槽及其在二氧化碳封存方面的潜在作用——这对二十一世纪的能源转型具有重要影响。

附：英文原文

Title: Intermittent behavior of bottom currents: The complexity of channels and moats

Author: W. Phothadee, F.J. Hernandez-Molina, E. Llave

Issue&Volume: 2025-12-24

Abstract: Contourite channels and moats are integral to contourite depositional systems in deepwater sedimentary environments. Many channels and moats worldwide share significant sedimentary and stratigraphic complexity along with time-scale variability. Prominent shifts in morphology translate to shifts in stacking pattern through both space and time. Contourite channels evolve from subtle depressions on a terrace, with a predominantly aggradational sedimentary stacking pattern, to narrow and deep moats in both aggradational and progradational configurations with incision and infill phases. Moreover, shifts in facies distribution reflects evolutionary changes within and along channels and moats. These variations depict a long-term transformation from weaker to stronger bottom currents, punctuated by millennial and sub-millennial periods of intermittent activity. These are driven by diverse oceanographic and tectonic processes that govern bottom current dynamics and sediment supply. We illustrate these concepts based on the PlioceneQuaternary channels and moats along the northern middle slope of the Gulf of Cádiz (along the southwestern Iberian Peninsula). There, the margin paleo-morphology, in particular the presence of canyons, affects the evolution of channels and moats due to short-term intermittency and variations of the Mediterranean Outflow Water. Our study offers new perspectives on contourite depositional systems; in particular, our understanding of channels and moats and their potential role in CO2 storage—impacting the twenty-firstcentury energy transition.

DOI: 10.1130/G53949.1

Source: https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geology/article/doi/10.1130/G53949.1/723758/Intermittent-behavior-of-bottom-currents-The