Why submarine canyons form in places where the seafloor is particularly steep

Geoscientists Professor Anne Bernhardt of Freie Universität Berlin and PD Dr. Wolfgang Schwanghart of the University of Potsdam have uncovered a surprising insight using a global statistical model: The primary factor influencing the formation of submarine canyons is the steepness of the seafloor—not, as commonly assumed, the role of rivers and where they transport sediment into the ocean.

Jun 12, 2025 - 18:08
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Geoscientists Professor Anne Bernhardt of Freie Universität Berlin and PD Dr. Wolfgang Schwanghart of the University of Potsdam have uncovered a surprising insight using a global statistical model: The primary factor influencing the formation of submarine canyons is the steepness of the seafloor—not, as commonly assumed, the role of rivers and where they transport sediment into the ocean.