Distribution and Controlling Factors of Submarine Channels on Antarctic Continental Margin

Submarine channels are widely distributed along the Antarctic continental margin and are important for sediment transport from Antarctica to the Southern Ocean. In addition, the distribution and morphological characteristics of channels have a profound impact on the instability of the Antarctic ice sheet and the Southern Ocean circulation. However, the origin and formation of these channels, which involve complex mechanisms, remain poorly understood in Antarctica. In this study, a total of 2,177 channels were identified along the Antarctic margin using bathymetry and seismic reflection data, and their morphology was quantified in terms of channel width, length and depth, and channel spacing. For the first time, we conducted a systematic comparative analysis of six regions along the Antarctic continental margin with the aim of identifying the main controlling factors, including continental slope gradient, shelf width, glacial trough size, ice flow velocity. Submarine channels on the East Antarctic continental margin are more closely spaced, cutting deeper and shorter on narrower continental shelves and steeper continental slopes. In addition, Ice sheet dynamics have important impacts on the morphology, sediment transport mechanism, current patterns, and evolution of submarine channels through direct and indirect means. These effects are important for understanding the evolution of marine sedimentary systems and the study of global climate change.