Los sistemas de valles tributarios del Cañón de Almería (NE Mar de Alborán): factores de control

Abstract

The analysis of multibeam bathymetric data and high-resolution seismic profiles in the Almería Margin (NE Alboran Sea) allows the definition of three Systems of Valleys that act as Tributaries (SVT) to the Almería Canyon: The Dalias SVT, in the canyon western margin, the Cata SV T to the East; and the Andarax SVT in the shelf and slope in front of Almería. These system share some mor­phologic characteristics as the down-slope trend of the valleys and the dendritic pattern, with sma­ller valleys merging to larger ones that finally flow into the canyon. In contrast, the differences in morphological parameters as length, depth or sinuosity and the recent stratigraphy indicate that the origin and development of the three systems has been affected in a different way by the main con­trolling factors: sea-level fluctuations, tectonics and physiography