Sea bed morphology off Krishna-Godavari delta with special reference to paralongitudinal channel in abyssal plain

Abstract

Study of sea bed morphology off Krishna-Godavari delta reveals 3 distinct geomorphic units, viz. shelf, slope and abyssal plain. The shelf breaks at 100 m isobath and after the slope the plain commences from 2200 m. Various physiographic signatures on the sea bed have been identified. Prominent channels flowing SSE and coast-parallel lineaments, may be expressed as faults, have been identified within the slope. Three paralongitudinal channels, characterised by elevated barriers on the valley floor, inward inclination of subparallel strata and faulted channel walls, are recorded from the abyssal plain. Subsurface undulatory reflections below the channel course indicate lateral movement of the channel. Elevated levees of the channel point to a turbidity-like current flowing through it.