Flueh, Ernst R.

Jintasaeranee, Pachoenchoke

Snidvongs, A.

Weinrebe, Reimer Wilhelm

English

OceanRep

Geophysical Research Abstracts,Vol. 11, EGU2009-2650-1, 2009EGU General Assembly 2009© Author(s) 2009Morphodynamics of the Andaman Sea Shelf Break, Thai EEZP. Jintasaeranee (1,2,5), W. Weinrebe (2), E.R. Flueh (2), A. Snidvongs (3,4)(1) PhD researcher The United Nations University, Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS), UN Campus,Bonn, Germany., (2) Leibniz-Institut für Meereswissenschaften an der Universität Kiel (IFM-GEOMAR), Kiel, Germany., (3)Southeast Asia START Regional Center, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand., (4) Department of Marine Science,Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand., (5) Department of Aquatic Science, Faculty of Science,Burapha University, Chonburi, Thailand.The primary aim of the project “Morphodynamics and Slope Stability of the Andaman Sea Shelf Break” isthe in situ characterization of the slope of the Andaman Shelf in Thai EEZ with special emphasis on previousslope failures and a possible tendency to fail in the future. The first cruise of the project was conducted inNovember-December 2006, the second cruise in October-November 2007 using the RV Chakratong Tongyai.Both cruises were devoted to hydroacoustic mapping of the shelf break and the slope. A multibeam bathymetricechosounder (MB)and a parametric sediment echosounder (sub-bottom profiler; SBP) were used to map thebathymetry and the thickness and structure of the uppermost sedimentary layer of hitherto unexplored parts of theshelf break in the Andaman Sea.An area of more than 3,000 km2 in the southwestern corner of the Thai EEZ in the Andaman Sea was successfullymapped. The data cover the upper shelf break from about 500 m down to about 1,400 m water depth. Threeespecially interesting slope areas and three plateaus are seen in the bathymetric map. In addition, one mud volcanoand more than 10 mounds in the mud volcano area have been indentified. The processing of the SBP data isstill ongoing, so far 34 locations that had distinct morphologic and/or unusual sediment seismic features in thissurvey area were studied. Most of these (30) anomalous features were attributed to areas with possible occurrenceof low-density fluids or gases in the shallow sediment layers. Almost all of these fluid or gas deposits were inlower slope areas with water depth greater than 900 m. In addition, several manifestations of fluid venting werealso mapped on the upper shelf edge at water depths of about 600 m. Some of these shallower vents could formmounds with diameters of up to 500 m and heights of up to 50 m. Diffuse reflections in the vicinity of the moundsand strong signals not related to seafloor reflections indicate the presence of uprising bubbles or gas flares.

Morphodynamics of the Andaman Sea Shelf Break, Thai EEZ

Weinrebe, Wilhelm

Flüh, Ernst R.

Snivdongs, A.

Morphodynamics of the Andaman Sea Shelf Break, Thai EEZ

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