Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
9461805 | Comptes Rendus Geoscience | 2005 | 7 Pages |
Abstract
We present the morphological analysis of a combined digital elevation model (DEM) obtained by merging data from terrestrial and coastal regions of southern New-Caledonia. Our aim is to describe the Quaternary morphotectonic evolution of the southwestern lagoon of New Caledonia, a region with a shallow average bathymetry (20 m), recently submerged in response to both tectonic and eustatic fluctuations. The marine DEM was obtained by interpolating 131â000 depth soundings from MOP-SHOM ('Mission océanographique du Pacifique'-'Service hydrographique et océanographique de la Marine', France). We confirm that morphologies such as meandering channels and deeply incised canyons are the result of a sub-aerial fluviatile evolution during periods of low sea levels. The marine sedimentation in this region is very recent, probably corresponding to no more than two glacial-interglacial cycles. Geometrical relationships between submerged paleo-rivers and streams, including captures and incisions, strongly suggest that Quaternary active tectonics affected river development. We identify two hydrographic palaeo-networks suggesting outflow changes, from parallel to the present-day island axis to perpendicular. To cite this article: V. Chevillotte et al., C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005).
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Physical Sciences and Engineering
Earth and Planetary Sciences
Earth and Planetary Sciences (General)
Authors
Violaine Chevillotte, Pascal Douillet, Guy Cabioch, Yves Lafoy, Yves Lagabrielle, Pierre Maurizot,