The episodic nature of sedimentation on continental shelves is now widely accepted. Insight obtained in subdisciplines ranging from physical oceanography to seismology suggests that short duration, large-energy events, such as storms, floods, and tsunamis may transport the majority of sediment on continental shelves. These events often form distinct sedimentary deposits or “‘event beds,” which are subsequently modified by physical and biological processes before their ultimate burial. Hence, the majority of the preserved stratigraphic record of continental shelves may comprise event beds in various stages of alteration (e.g., Nittrouer and Sternberg, 1981).

Wheatcroft, R.A., J.C. Borgeld, R.S. Born, D.E. Drake, E.L. Leithold, C.A. Nittrouer, and C.K. Sommerfield. 1996. The anatomy of an oceanic flood deposit. Oceanography 9(3):158–162, https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.1996.03.

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