Morphological and sedimentological assessment of submarine dune fields on the coast of Yucatan, Mexico

作者：Cuevas Eduardo^*; de los Angeles Liceaga Correa Maria; Rincon Sandoval Luis A; Mexicano Cintora Guadalupe; Arellano Mendez Leonardo; Euan Avila Jorge I; Hernandez Nunez Hector; Mulsow Sandor

来源：Ciencias Marinas, 2013, 39(1): 83-99.

DOI：10.7773/cm.v39i1.2152

• dune field
• dune morphology
• sub-bottom profiles
• sedimentology

Conspicuous sedimentary deposits forming well-structured and prominent submarine dunes are found on the coast of Yucatan (Mexico), close to the ports of Dzilam de Bravo, San Felipe, and El Cuyo. The objective of this study was to evaluate the morphological and sedimentological features of these submarine dunes. Sub-bottom seismologic profiles were obtained and standardized sedimentological analyses were performed on sediment samples collected at the three study sites. Both the height and wavelength of dunes were different between the three sites, mean heights ranging from 0.84 to 2.28 m and mean wavelengths from 98 to 330 m. Most of the dunes showed a well-marked asymmetry, which is related to the direction of their movements. Their granulometric composition was dominated by medium, moderately well-sorted sand. This study provides bases for future systematic monitoring of these peculiar ecosystems, including information to be considered for the evaluation of their ecological role in the marine system.

• 出版日期2013-3