Retrogressive thaw slumps (RTSs) are thermokarst landforms that develop on slopes in permafrost regions when thawing permafrost causes the land surface to collapse. RTSs are an indicator of climate change and pose a threat to human infrastructure and ecosystems in the affected areas. As the availability of ready-to-use high-resolution satellite imagery increases, automatic RTS mapping is being explored with deep learning methods. We employed a pre-trained Mask-RCNN model to automatically map RTSs on Banks Island and Victoria Island in the western Canadian Arctic, where there is extensive RTS activity. We tested the model with different settings, including image band combinations, backbones, and backbone trainable layers, and performed hyper-parameter tuning and determined the optimal learning rate, momentum, and decay rate for each of the model settings. Our final model successfully mapped most of the RTSs in our test sites, with F1 scores ranging from 0.61 to 0.79. Our study demonstrates that transfer learning from a pre-trained Mask-RCNN model is an effective approach that has the potential to be applied for RTS mapping across the Canadian Arctic.

This thesis applies a novel method of change detection, the Landsat Image Stack Trend Analysis method to the monitoring of retrogressive thaw slumps in the Richardson Mountains, NWT. This method represents a significant improvement upon previous methods of thaw slump monitoring, which utilized air photos and high-resolution satellite imagery. This method applies Tasseled Cap brightness, wetness and greenness indices to Landsat TM/ETM images acquired between 1985 and 2011 and analyzes the temporal change of each pixel for the different indices values. This method is useful in retrogressive thaw slump monitoring in two ways. First, by creating a map showing the linear change over time from 1985 to 2011, retrogressive thaw slumps can be easily identified, as they are more dynamic than the surrounding tundra. In total, 251 thaw slumps were identified within an area of roughly 18 000km2. Second, thaw slump activity, from initiation, growth and stabilization can be studied by plotting the annual vegetation index pixel values of adjacent pixels in a thaw slump. This method allows for the efficient extraction of annual thaw slump headwall retreat rates, provided the availability of cloud-free imagery. The retreat rates of 16 slumps were extracted, which were found to have an average annual retreat rate of 11.8 m yr-1.

O Campo de Miranga, localizado no Compartimento Central da Bacia do Recôncavo, é um importante produtor de óleo e gás. As rochas reservatório portadoras de hidrocarbonetos aqui apresentadas constituem-se de corpos arenosos gerados por fluxos gravitacionais subaquosos intercalados por folhelhos e pertencem a Formação Maracangalha (depositada no Cretáceo Inferior). Com a descrição de 775 m de testemunhos, definiu-se 8 fácies deposicionais e 6 deformacionais para o intervalo estudado. O agrupamento de fácies em conjuntos que apresentam feições estruturais e genéticas similares permitiu a proposição de Associações de Fácies cujas interpretações são: AF1 - lobos turbidíticos distais; AF2 - canais e/ou lobos turbidíticos arenosos; AF3 - franjas de sistemas turbidíticos conglomeráticos; AF4 - deslizamentos ou regiões proximais de escorregamentos; AF5 - porções mais deformadas de corpos de deslizamentos a escorregamentos; AF6 - escorregamentos altamente móveis, plásticos a fluxos de detritos. Foi definido um datum na porção intermediária da formação constituído por uma espessa seção pelítica. Depósitos distais da AF6 dominam a porção basal do intervalo estudado e são sucedidos verticalmente (em direção ao datum) por intercalações entre turbiditos (AF2) e escorregamentos (AF5). Imediatamente acima do datum ocorrem níveis conglomeráticos (AF3) que são sucedidos verticalmente por um domínio onde se intercalam deslizamentos (AF4), escorregamentos (AF5) e turbiditos (AF2), definindose uma grande sucessão progradacional para a Formação Maracangalha na área estudada. O disparo desses fluxos provavelmente associa-se a movimentação de falhas durante estágio sin-rifte responsáveis por intensa sismicidade e remobilização de frentes deltaicas. Um mecanismo auxiliar associa-se ao intenso diapirismo argilocinético. A conectividade lateral rastreada em seções sísmicas é baixa e os melhores reservatórios do campo são os representantes da AF4 e AF2. Por critérios preditivos é possível determinar os intervalos mais propícios para a ocorrência desses corpos. / The Miranga Field, which is located in the Central Compartment of Reconcavo Basin, is an important oil and gas producer. The bearing hydrocarbon reservoirs presented here are composed of sand bodies generated by subaqueous gravity flows inserted between shales, belonging to the Maracangalha Formation (deposited during the Lower Cretaceous). Through the description of 775 m well cores, 8 depositional and 6 deformational facies were defined for the interval studied. These facies were grouped together according to structural and genetic characteristics making it possible to define Facies Associations with the following interpretations: AF1 - distal portions of turbidite lobes; AF2 - channels and/or sandy turbidite lobes; AF3 - borders of conglomeratic turbidite systems; AF4 - slides or proximal parts of slumps; AF5 - distal portions of the slides bodies or slumps; AF6 - highly mobile slumps to debris flows. A datum was chosen in the middle portion of Maracangalha Formation which consists of thick layer of shale. Distal deposits (AF6) dominate the basal portion of interval studied and they are succeeded vertically (toward to the datum) by layers interbedded between turbidites (AF2) and slump deposits (AF5). Immediately above the datum, conglomeratic intervals (AF3) occur and they are succeeded vertically by layers interbedded between slides (AF4), slumps (AF5) and turbidites (AF2), defining a great progradational succession to Maracangalha Formation in the studied area. Trigger mechanisms responsible for the genesis of gravitational flows are probably associated with faults activities during the syn-rift stage which led to intense seismic activity and caused the destabilization of sediments in delta fronts. An alternative cause for triggering may have been intense diapiric shale movements. The lateral connectivity traced in seismic sections is low and the sand bodies that should constitute the best reservoirs in this field belong to AF4 and AF2 categories. It is possible to determine the most favorable intervals for the occurrence of these sand bodies using predictive criteria.

O Campo de Miranga, localizado no Compartimento Central da Bacia do Recôncavo, é um importante produtor de óleo e gás. As rochas reservatório portadoras de hidrocarbonetos aqui apresentadas constituem-se de corpos arenosos gerados por fluxos gravitacionais subaquosos intercalados por folhelhos e pertencem a Formação Maracangalha (depositada no Cretáceo Inferior). Com a descrição de 775 m de testemunhos, definiu-se 8 fácies deposicionais e 6 deformacionais para o intervalo estudado. O agrupamento de fácies em conjuntos que apresentam feições estruturais e genéticas similares permitiu a proposição de Associações de Fácies cujas interpretações são: AF1 - lobos turbidíticos distais; AF2 - canais e/ou lobos turbidíticos arenosos; AF3 - franjas de sistemas turbidíticos conglomeráticos; AF4 - deslizamentos ou regiões proximais de escorregamentos; AF5 - porções mais deformadas de corpos de deslizamentos a escorregamentos; AF6 - escorregamentos altamente móveis, plásticos a fluxos de detritos. Foi definido um datum na porção intermediária da formação constituído por uma espessa seção pelítica. Depósitos distais da AF6 dominam a porção basal do intervalo estudado e são sucedidos verticalmente (em direção ao datum) por intercalações entre turbiditos (AF2) e escorregamentos (AF5). Imediatamente acima do datum ocorrem níveis conglomeráticos (AF3) que são sucedidos verticalmente por um domínio onde se intercalam deslizamentos (AF4), escorregamentos (AF5) e turbiditos (AF2), definindose uma grande sucessão progradacional para a Formação Maracangalha na área estudada. O disparo desses fluxos provavelmente associa-se a movimentação de falhas durante estágio sin-rifte responsáveis por intensa sismicidade e remobilização de frentes deltaicas. Um mecanismo auxiliar associa-se ao intenso diapirismo argilocinético. A conectividade lateral rastreada em seções sísmicas é baixa e os melhores reservatórios do campo são os representantes da AF4 e AF2. Por critérios preditivos é possível determinar os intervalos mais propícios para a ocorrência desses corpos. / The Miranga Field, which is located in the Central Compartment of Reconcavo Basin, is an important oil and gas producer. The bearing hydrocarbon reservoirs presented here are composed of sand bodies generated by subaqueous gravity flows inserted between shales, belonging to the Maracangalha Formation (deposited during the Lower Cretaceous). Through the description of 775 m well cores, 8 depositional and 6 deformational facies were defined for the interval studied. These facies were grouped together according to structural and genetic characteristics making it possible to define Facies Associations with the following interpretations: AF1 - distal portions of turbidite lobes; AF2 - channels and/or sandy turbidite lobes; AF3 - borders of conglomeratic turbidite systems; AF4 - slides or proximal parts of slumps; AF5 - distal portions of the slides bodies or slumps; AF6 - highly mobile slumps to debris flows. A datum was chosen in the middle portion of Maracangalha Formation which consists of thick layer of shale. Distal deposits (AF6) dominate the basal portion of interval studied and they are succeeded vertically (toward to the datum) by layers interbedded between turbidites (AF2) and slump deposits (AF5). Immediately above the datum, conglomeratic intervals (AF3) occur and they are succeeded vertically by layers interbedded between slides (AF4), slumps (AF5) and turbidites (AF2), defining a great progradational succession to Maracangalha Formation in the studied area. Trigger mechanisms responsible for the genesis of gravitational flows are probably associated with faults activities during the syn-rift stage which led to intense seismic activity and caused the destabilization of sediments in delta fronts. An alternative cause for triggering may have been intense diapiric shale movements. The lateral connectivity traced in seismic sections is low and the sand bodies that should constitute the best reservoirs in this field belong to AF4 and AF2 categories. It is possible to determine the most favorable intervals for the occurrence of these sand bodies using predictive criteria.

O Campo de Miranga, localizado no Compartimento Central da Bacia do Recôncavo, é um importante produtor de óleo e gás. As rochas reservatório portadoras de hidrocarbonetos aqui apresentadas constituem-se de corpos arenosos gerados por fluxos gravitacionais subaquosos intercalados por folhelhos e pertencem a Formação Maracangalha (depositada no Cretáceo Inferior). Com a descrição de 775 m de testemunhos, definiu-se 8 fácies deposicionais e 6 deformacionais para o intervalo estudado. O agrupamento de fácies em conjuntos que apresentam feições estruturais e genéticas similares permitiu a proposição de Associações de Fácies cujas interpretações são: AF1 - lobos turbidíticos distais; AF2 - canais e/ou lobos turbidíticos arenosos; AF3 - franjas de sistemas turbidíticos conglomeráticos; AF4 - deslizamentos ou regiões proximais de escorregamentos; AF5 - porções mais deformadas de corpos de deslizamentos a escorregamentos; AF6 - escorregamentos altamente móveis, plásticos a fluxos de detritos. Foi definido um datum na porção intermediária da formação constituído por uma espessa seção pelítica. Depósitos distais da AF6 dominam a porção basal do intervalo estudado e são sucedidos verticalmente (em direção ao datum) por intercalações entre turbiditos (AF2) e escorregamentos (AF5). Imediatamente acima do datum ocorrem níveis conglomeráticos (AF3) que são sucedidos verticalmente por um domínio onde se intercalam deslizamentos (AF4), escorregamentos (AF5) e turbiditos (AF2), definindose uma grande sucessão progradacional para a Formação Maracangalha na área estudada. O disparo desses fluxos provavelmente associa-se a movimentação de falhas durante estágio sin-rifte responsáveis por intensa sismicidade e remobilização de frentes deltaicas. Um mecanismo auxiliar associa-se ao intenso diapirismo argilocinético. A conectividade lateral rastreada em seções sísmicas é baixa e os melhores reservatórios do campo são os representantes da AF4 e AF2. Por critérios preditivos é possível determinar os intervalos mais propícios para a ocorrência desses corpos. / The Miranga Field, which is located in the Central Compartment of Reconcavo Basin, is an important oil and gas producer. The bearing hydrocarbon reservoirs presented here are composed of sand bodies generated by subaqueous gravity flows inserted between shales, belonging to the Maracangalha Formation (deposited during the Lower Cretaceous). Through the description of 775 m well cores, 8 depositional and 6 deformational facies were defined for the interval studied. These facies were grouped together according to structural and genetic characteristics making it possible to define Facies Associations with the following interpretations: AF1 - distal portions of turbidite lobes; AF2 - channels and/or sandy turbidite lobes; AF3 - borders of conglomeratic turbidite systems; AF4 - slides or proximal parts of slumps; AF5 - distal portions of the slides bodies or slumps; AF6 - highly mobile slumps to debris flows. A datum was chosen in the middle portion of Maracangalha Formation which consists of thick layer of shale. Distal deposits (AF6) dominate the basal portion of interval studied and they are succeeded vertically (toward to the datum) by layers interbedded between turbidites (AF2) and slump deposits (AF5). Immediately above the datum, conglomeratic intervals (AF3) occur and they are succeeded vertically by layers interbedded between slides (AF4), slumps (AF5) and turbidites (AF2), defining a great progradational succession to Maracangalha Formation in the studied area. Trigger mechanisms responsible for the genesis of gravitational flows are probably associated with faults activities during the syn-rift stage which led to intense seismic activity and caused the destabilization of sediments in delta fronts. An alternative cause for triggering may have been intense diapiric shale movements. The lateral connectivity traced in seismic sections is low and the sand bodies that should constitute the best reservoirs in this field belong to AF4 and AF2 categories. It is possible to determine the most favorable intervals for the occurrence of these sand bodies using predictive criteria.

This thesis applies a novel method of change detection, the Landsat Image Stack Trend Analysis method to the monitoring of retrogressive thaw slumps in the Richardson Mountains, NWT. This method represents a significant improvement upon previous methods of thaw slump monitoring, which utilized air photos and high-resolution satellite imagery. This method applies Tasseled Cap brightness, wetness and greenness indices to Landsat TM/ETM images acquired between 1985 and 2011 and analyzes the temporal change of each pixel for the different indices values. This method is useful in retrogressive thaw slump monitoring in two ways. First, by creating a map showing the linear change over time from 1985 to 2011, retrogressive thaw slumps can be easily identified, as they are more dynamic than the surrounding tundra. In total, 251 thaw slumps were identified within an area of roughly 18 000km2. Second, thaw slump activity, from initiation, growth and stabilization can be studied by plotting the annual vegetation index pixel values of adjacent pixels in a thaw slump. This method allows for the efficient extraction of annual thaw slump headwall retreat rates, provided the availability of cloud-free imagery. The retreat rates of 16 slumps were extracted, which were found to have an average annual retreat rate of 11.8 m yr-1.

Ce travail est consacré à l'étude des caractères sédimentologiques de la série du Crétacé inférieur de la zone subalpine méridionale, dans le domaine voconcien, en vue de la reconstitution paléogéographique du bassin à cette époque.

A basin analysis was conducted at the Conway Flat coast (Marlborough Fault Zone, South Island, New Zealand) to investigate the interaction of regional and local structure in a transpressional plate boundary and its control on basin formation. A multi-tiered approach has been employed involving: (i) detailed analysis of sedimentary deposits; (ii) geomorphic mapping of terraces, fault traces and lineaments; (iii) dating of deposits by 14C and OSL and (iv) the integration of data to form a basin-synthesis in a sequence stratigraphy framework. A complex thrust fault zone (the Hawkswood Thrust Fault Zone), originating at the hinge of the thrust-cored Hawkswood anticline, is interpreted to be a result of west-dipping thrust faults joining at depth with the Hundalee Fault and propagating eastwards. The faults uplift and dissect alluvial fans to form terraces along the Conway Flat coast that provide the necessary relief to form the fan deltas. These terrace/fan surfaces are ~9 km long and ~3 km wide, composite features, with their upper parts representing sub-aerial alluvial fans. These grade into delta plains of Quaternary Gilbert-style fan deltas. Uplift and incision have created excellent 3D views of the underlying Gilbert-style fan delta complexes from topsets to prodelta deposits. Erosive contacts between the Medina, Rafa, Ngaroma and modern Conway fan delta deposits, coupled with changes in terrace elevations allow an understanding of the development of multiple inset terraces along the Conway Flat coast. These terraces are divided into five stages of evolution based on variations in sedimentary facies and geomorphic mapping: Stage I involves the uplift of the Hawkswood Range and subsequent increased sedimentation rate such that alluvial fans prograded to the sea to form the Medina fan delta Terrace. Stage II began with a period of incision, from lowering sea level or changes in the uplift and sedimentation rate and continued with the deposition of the Dawn and Upham fan deltas. Stage III starts with the incision of the Rafa Terrace and deposition of aggradational terraces in the upper reaches. Stage IV initiated by a period of incision followed by deposition of estuarine facies at ~8ka and Stage V began with a period of incision and continues today with the infilling of the incised valley by the modern fan delta of the Conway River and its continued progradation. New dates from within the Gilbert-type fan deltas along the Conway Flat coast are presented, using OSL and 14C dating techniques. Faulting at the Conway Flat coast began ~ 94 ka, based on the development of the Medina Terrace fan delta with uplift rates ~1.38~1.42 m/ka. The interplay of tectonics and sea level fluctuations continued as the ~79 ka Rafa Terrace fan deltas were created, with uplift rates calculated at ~1.39 m/ka. Detailed 14C ages from paleoforest (~8.4-~6.4 ka) in the Ngaroma Terrace and from the mouths of smaller streams have established uplift rates during the Holocene ~1-3 m/ka, depending on sea level.

Global warming is forecast to cause significant thawing of the permafrost that surrounds lakes and rivers across the Arctic, with potential wide-scale effects on the water quality and biotic characteristics of these water bodies. The benthic environment is believed to be especially sensitive to permafrost-induced ecological change, and this has been the focus of recent field intensive research. Five lakes disturbed and three lakes undisturbed by retrogressive permafrost thaw slumps were sampled during late summer of 2006 to assess the potential effects of slumping on benthos. Water quality parameters, submerged macrophytes, benthic invertebrates, and sediment were collected. A significant difference (p < 0.05) between disturbed and undisturbed lakes was found for macrophyte, invertebrates, underwater light attenuation, and some sediment variables. The results suggest that thaw slumps can affect submerged macrophyte biomass, benthic invertebrate abundance, and also community structure in upland tundra lakes. Such differences between undisturbed and disturbed lakes are suggested to be related to changes in water column transparency, sediment nutrient availability, soil and terrestrial vegetation loading from the landscape, and changes in slope angle of the littoral zone.

La sédimentation marine récente dans les fosses de subduction est caractérisée par l'interstratification de sédiments hémipélagiques et de turbidites localement intercalées avec les coulées de débris, qui peuvent résulter de la destabilisation des pentes continentales par de tremblements de terre. La marge d’Equateur est constituée par une forte érosion tectonique qui contribue à la formation d'une fosse profonde remplie d'une suite complexe de faciès sédimentaires. La sédimentation par écoulements gravitaires est omniprésente le long de la marge et les faciès vont de dépôts de transport de masse d'épaisseur métriques latéralement continus à des turbidites d'épaisseur centimétriques isolées intercalées avec des couches d'hémipélagites, de volcanoclastiques et de téphras. Nous présentons l'interprétation de la bathymétrie, des profils sismiques à haute résolution et des données pétrophysiques des carottes sédimentaires. L'objectif de cette étude est de décrire la complexité morphologique à la frontière équatorienne de la plaque de Nazca où un ensemble d'aspérités marines profondes ont subducté à différentes échelles, et ses conséquences sur la distribution latérale des sédiments dans les différents sous-bassins. La marge équatorienne comprend trois segments géomorphologiques: Le segment nord, situé au nord de la crête Carnegie, est caractérisé par une large (5-10 km) et profonde fosse (3800-4000 m), une pente continentale ravinée et une plate-forme (10-40 km de large) avec subsidence active. Le segment central en face de la crête de Carnégie montre une fosse étroite (0-5 km de large) et peu profonde (3100-3700 m), la pente escarpée et ravinée, sans canyons, et plateau continental étroit de 15 à 40 km de large caractérisé par des zones d'affaissement et de soulèvement actifs. Enfin, le segment sud, situé au sud de la crête Carnegie, présente une large (5-10 km) et profonde fosse (4000-4700 m), une pente continentale pauvre en sédiments avec des systèmes de canyons bien définis et une large plate-forme de subsidence (20-50 km). La dynamique sédimentaire le long de la marge est évaluée par l'analyse de 15 carottes sédimentaires dont la description visuelle, les photographies à haute résolution, l'imagerie par rayons X, les données XRF et les propriétés pétrophysiques conduisent à l'identification de 11 faciès sédimentaires caractérisant 7 processus sédimentaires: dépôts de turbidite, hémipélagites, téphras, dépôts de coulées de débris, homogénites, des slumps et des dépôts de carbonate de ooze. Les âges des dépôts sont définis par la datation au radiocarbone des sédiments hémipélagites. Les âges vont de 500 à 48000 ans BP. Les profils sismiques à haute résolution permettent de définir 3 echo-faciès: transparent, stratifiés et chaotiques. Le facies transparent est principalement associé aux dépôts d'homogénites, le facies stratifié est associé aux dépôts interstratifiés turbiditique-hémipélagique et le facies chaotique est associé à des dépôts gravitaires grossiers. Le remplissage de la fosse représente un enregistrement lacunaire mais important de l'histoire de la marge de subduction. De grandes coulées de débris se déplaçant vers l'est dans les deux séquences inférieures du remplissage de la fosse sont initiées le long de la paroi extérieure de la fosse, le long de grandes failles normales dues à la flexion de la plaque océanique subductante. Les sédiments de la séquence supérieure du remplissage qui nappent la fosse sont plus largement fournis par la paroi interne de la fosse mais avec un fort contrôle de la ride de Carnegie. En conséquence, la profondeur, la fréquence, l'épaisseur, la composition et la disposition latérale des dépôts sédimentaires varient grandement entre le nord et le sud. Les grands méga-lits simples, les slumps, les coulées de débris et les homogénites sont situés dans les segments nord et sud. Ils sont déclenchés par de grands escarpements de failles régionales, dans le Nord / Recent deep marine sedimentation in subduction trenches is characterized by the inter-stratification of hemipelagic and turbidite sediments locally interbedded with debris flow, which can result from continental slope shaking triggered by earthquakes. The active margin of Ecuador comprises tectonic erosion that contributes to the formation of a deep trench filled by a complex suite of sedimentary facies. Gravity flow sedimentation is ubiquitous along the margin and facies range from laterally continuous m-thick mass transport deposits to isolated cm-thick turbidites intercalated with hemipelagite, volcanoclastics and tephra. In this study we show interpretation of swath bathymetry, high-resolution seismic profiles and petrophysical data from cores. The objective is to describe the morphologic complexity on the Ecuadorian border of the Nazca plate where a set of deep marine asperities is subducting at different scales, and their consequences on the distribution of sediments in the different sub-basins. Ecuadorian margin comprises three geomorphological segments: The northern segment, northward of the Carnegie Ridge, is characterized by a wide (5-10 km) and deep trench (3800 – 4000 m), a gentler gullied continental slope and a shelf (10-40 km wide) with active subsidence. The central segment facing the Carnegie Ridge, is strongly influenced by the subduction of the Carnegie ridge which induces a narrow (0–5 km wide) and shallow trench (3100 – 3700 m depth), a steep and gullied slope with no canyons and a 15–40 km wide shelf characterized by areas with active subsidence and uplift. Finally, the southern segment, southward of the Carnegie Ridge, presents a wide (5–10 km) and deep (4000–4700 m) trench, a starved continental slope with well-defined canyon systems and a wide subsiding shelf (20–50 km). The sedimentary dynamics along the margin is evaluated by the analysis of 15 cores. Visual description, high-resolution photographs, X-Ray imagery, XRF data and petrophysical properties led to the identification of 11 sedimentary facies that characterize seven sedimentary processes: turbidites, hemipelagites, tephras, debris flows, homogenites, slumps, and ooze carbonate deposits. Age of the deposits is defined by radiocarbon age dating of hemipelagic sediments. Ages range from 500 to 48,000 years BP. High-resolution seismic profiles allow definition of three echo-facies: transparent, layered and chaotic. Transparent echo-facies is mainly associated to homogenite deposits, layered echo-facies is associated to the turbiditic-hemipelagic interbedded deposits and chaotic echo-facies is associated to reworked gravity flow deposits. The trench fill represents a lacunar but important record of the subduction margin history. Large eastward debris flows in the lower two sequences of the trench fill are provided by the trench outer wall as a results of slope failures along normal faults due to the downward bending of the oceanic plate. The sediment of the upper sequence of the trench fill draping the trench floor, are largely provided by the inner trench wall strongly controlled by the Carnegie Ridge. As a result, depth, frequency, thickness, composition and lateral disposition of the deposits vary greatly from those at north and south. The large, simple mega-beds like slump, debris flows and homogenites are located at the northern and southern segments. They were triggered by large regional faults in the North and enhanced by the activity of sets of splay faults in the South overhanging the seafloor at the slope toe. Small-size, fluid rich events were triggered by subduction of isolated seamounts at the edges of the Carnegie Ridge due to frequent but small destabilizations of an inner trench wall preconditioned by the impacts of successive seamounts. Sets of partly volcanoclastic turbidites in central segment might have been triggered by the complex interaction of slope and continental shelf deformation by seamount subduction