The Impact of the Caroline Ridge Subduction on the Geomorphological Characteristics of Major Landforms in the Yap Subduction Zone
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Tectonic Settings of the YSZ
2.2. The Bathymetry Data
2.3. The Marine Geomorphometry Technique
2.3.1. The General Geomorphometry Technique
2.3.2. The Specific Geomorphometry Technique
2.4. Gravity Anomalies
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. The Geomorphological and Geophysical Characteristics of the Major Landforms in the YSZ
3.1.1. The Bathymetric Characteristics of the Major Morphotectonic Regions in the YSZ
3.1.2. The General Geomorphological Characteristics of the YSZ
3.1.3. The Classification of Geomorphic Features in the YSZ
3.1.4. The Gravity Anomalies in the YSZ
3.2. The Influence of the CR Subduction on the Geomorphological Characteristics of the YSZ
3.2.1. The Influence of CR Subduction on the Formation of large NE-SW Oriented Fractures on the Southernmost Parece Vela Basin
3.2.2. The Impact of CR Subduction on the Formation of the Yap Arc Crust
3.2.3. The Impact of CR Subduction on the Geomorphology of the Arc-Ward Trench Slope
3.2.4. The Impact of CR Subduction on the Morphology of the YT Axis
3.2.5. The Impact of CR Subduction on the Formation of the Horst and Graben Structures and Higher Slope Values on the Sea-Ward Trench Slope
4. Conclusions
- The large NE-SW direction sinuous fractures are observed in the southernmost Parece Vela Basin. These fractures suggest that the southernmost Parece Vela Basin experienced the ESE–WNW direction spreading after the collision of the ENE-WSW-oriented CR and the Philippine Sea Plate.
- Higher Bouguer gravity anomalies and a narrower Yap Ridge are observed north of 10°00′ N of the Yap arc, indicating the absence of a normal overlying thick and low-dense volcanic arc crust. The absence of a normal volcanic arc crust north of the Yap arc may have resulted from the strong structural erosion on the overriding Philippine Sea Plate caused by the strong coupling between the subducting CR and the Philippine Sea Plate.
- The bathymetric highs which are observed on the arc-ward trench slopes north of 8°26′ N are correlated to the subducting seamounts of the CR on the opposite sea-ward trench slopes. This suggests that the subducting seamounts of the CR control the formation of the bathymetric highs on the arc-ward trench slope. Furthermore, two major slope breaks are observed on the arc-ward trench slope. The slope breaks are thought to be the boundaries of the submarine landslide body.
- The abnormally low bathymetric values are observed north of 8°26′ N of the Yap Trench axis. The low bathymetric values are most likely influenced by the overlying high-density crust north of the Yap arc which forces the trench axis down to lower bathymetry. In addition, several isolated high bathymetric values are observed north of 8°26′ N of the Yap Trench axis. The isolated high bathymetric values are also the contact zones between the subducting seamounts of CR and the Yap Trench axis, suggesting that the subducting seamounts of the CR which are encountering the Yap Trench axis elevate the trench to higher bathymetric values from a maximum depth. Furthermore, higher terrain ruggedness and large negative values of free-air and isostatic gravity anomalies are observed on the Yap Trench axis. The Yap Trench axis also reveals the V-asymmetric shape. These findings suggest that there are no/little thick sediments along the trench axis and thus the sediments are currently subducting.
- The crescent bathymetric low which is associated with the horst and graben structures is observed north of 8°26′ N of the sea-ward trench slope at the contact zone between the CR and the Yap Trench axis, implying the bending of the subducting CR and thus the extensional setting environment. Furthermore, the slope values of the seaward trench slope north of 8°26′ N are unusually higher (4–10°) compared to normal (1–3°) seaward trench slope values. This suggests that the subduction of the CR increases compression force at the Yap Trench axis, resulting in the vertical movement on the seaward trench slope and hence the formation of unusually higher slope values.
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Terrain Attribute | Parameter | Unit | Tool |
---|---|---|---|
Slope | 3 × 3 cell neighborhood | Degree | BTM |
Broad BPI | 150 and 15 cell radii | Unitless | BTM |
Fine BPI | 15 and 3 cell radii | Unitless | BTM |
Ruggedness | 3 × 3 cell neighborhood | Unitless | BTM |
Feature ID | Seabed Feature | Broad BPI | Fine BPI | Slope | Depth | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lower | Upper | Lower | Upper | Lower | Upper | Lower | Upper | ||
01 | Deep valley | −100 | −100 | −5772 | |||||
02 | Depression | −100 | 100 | −100 | |||||
03 | Flat | −100 | 100 | −100 | 100 | 4 | |||
04 | Scarp | −100 | −100 | 100 | 4 | ||||
05 | Oceanic ridge | 100 | 100 | 0 | |||||
06 | Seamount | −100 | 100 | 100 | |||||
07 | Shallow valley | −100 | −100 | −5772 | |||||
08 | Steep slope | −100 | 100 | −100 | 100 | 4 | |||
09 | Volcanic arc/island | 100 | 100 | 0 |
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Sangana, P.; Gao, Q.; Li, Z. The Impact of the Caroline Ridge Subduction on the Geomorphological Characteristics of Major Landforms in the Yap Subduction Zone. J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2022, 10, 1414. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse10101414
Sangana P, Gao Q, Li Z. The Impact of the Caroline Ridge Subduction on the Geomorphological Characteristics of Major Landforms in the Yap Subduction Zone. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering. 2022; 10(10):1414. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse10101414
Chicago/Turabian StyleSangana, Peter, Qin Gao, and Zilong Li. 2022. "The Impact of the Caroline Ridge Subduction on the Geomorphological Characteristics of Major Landforms in the Yap Subduction Zone" Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 10, no. 10: 1414. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse10101414