Evolution of a Fan Channel on the Surface of the Outer Mississippi Fan: Evidence from Side-Looking Sonar

A deep-towed, side-looking sonar survey of an outer fan, distributary channel near DSDP Sites 614 and 615 on the Mississippi Fan defined three distinct morphologic zones: (1) a relatively “straight” channel zone (sinuosity of 1.1), (2) a channel termination zone, and (3) a splay and “finger-shaped distributary” zone. Boundaries between zones are gradual with no direct connection observed between this channel and the leveed channel that was mapped and drilled farther upfan during DSDP Leg 96.