Evolution of the Var valley

landscape

Philippe AUDRA

GLOMAR CHALLENGER 1970

Deep Sea Drilling Project

Evaporites ≈ 5 Ma

Spain

Morocco

N

Deep-basin, shallow-water model [HSÜ, CITA & RYAN, 1973]

1 (5.9 Ma)

3 (5.3 Ma)

2 (T < 0.5 Ma)

5.3 Ma: The Flood!

Deep canyons onshore

Ebro

Rhône Danube

Nile?

Pô

Nile valley (Egypt) / Aswan dam900 km from shore / 200 m bsl.

A virtual canyon!

Canyon’s geometry

Canyon’s fill

100 km long Canyon

Var PaillonRoya

Loup

-1500 m / 15 km(10 %!)

Var mouth=> Submarine deep canyons

Depth 1000 m

Depth 350 m

See you tomorrow on the field!Meeting at 8:00

be on time!!!