The linkage between longitudinal sediment routing systems and basin types in the northern South China Sea in perspective of source-to-sink

The certain basin types may be occupied by particular styles of sediment routing system. By comparing the morpho-sedimentary features and basin characteristics associated with the modern Central Canyon to that of the Valencia Channel in NW Mediterranean Sea, the longitudinal sediment routing system in rift basin type can be determined. In contrast, the longitudinal sediment routing systems in collision setting can be represented by the comparable examples of Penghu Canyon in southwest Taiwan collision basin and Markham Canyon in western Solomon Sea. The rift type sediment routing system is characterized by an axial canyon with a single sediment supply from land drainage margin. In contrast, sediment routing system in collision type basins consists of an axial canyon and dual sediment supplies from flank adjacent slopes. The axial canyons in collision basins are more active than that of the rift basin due to abundant sediment supply and active tectonics. The results demonstrate the role of longitudinal sediment transport in delivering terrestrial sediments for a long distance from land drainages (source) to far-field deep-sea basin (sink). This study has implication for better understanding of the linkages between basin mechanics, sediment routing systems and sedimentary processes.