Geology, geography and global energy

Scientific and Technical Journal

Morphology and morphometry of the Danube canyon

2015. №1, pp. 100-113

Yevsyukov Yuriy D. - C.Sc. in Geography, Leading research assistant, Southern Branch of P. P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 1g Prostornaya st., Gelendzhik, Krasnodar region, 353467, Russian Federation, evsgeol@rambler.ru

Rudnev Valeriy I. - Younger Research Assistant, Southern Branch of P. P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 1g Prostornaya st., Gelendzhik, Krasnodar region, 353467, Russian Federation, evsgeol@rambler.ru

In 70 years of last century regional echo sounding in the western part of the Black Sea was revealed extensive uplift, called the ridge of Moiseev. In subsequent years, oceanographic work carried out on the detailed polygons, which significantly expanded the available ideas about the formation and development of the bottom relief of the Black Sea hollow. In this basin to date complex geological and geophysical studies, accompanied by echo sounding, performed on 45 polygons. Compilation and analysis of the results obtained at the ranges, their planned position and tabulation showed that almost all the studied area have individual features. This is due to the different density of observations, the volume of work performed, etc., that, finally, identify their level of scientific information content. Field studies revealed a great diversity and heterogeneity of many forms of relief submarine continental margin basin. From the aggregated data it is known that the total amount of geological and geophysical studies within the Danube alluvial fan exceeds 5 thousand kilometers. The resulting materials are mainly published. However, the Danube canyon considered, often, only in general terms. In this aspect, it is possible to note that in this article is made and presented for the first time. See detailed features of morphology and morphometry of the Danube Canyon, visually shown on the graph. Discussed in detail the structure of the canyon along its entire length - more than 170 km, of which the upper 30 km is located on the continental shelf. Defined the characteristics of the thalweg of the canyon and associated large ridges. Graphically illustrates the contrast variation of the steepness of the ridge slopes facing the thalweg. Given longitudinal profile shows extremely complex structure of the axial zone of the canyon due to its sharp meandering. Morphometric characteristics of thalweg and ridges, taken from the longitudinal profiles, are presented in projection on a vertical plane. Analyzed the relief-forming factors, shows their importance and priority in the development of the canyon.

Key words: полигон, эхопрофилирование, рельеф, батиметрия, конус выноса, каньон, тальвег, гряда, морфометрия, range, echo profiling, relief, bathymetry, alluvial fan, canyon, thalweg, ridge, morphometry

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