Contour currents (original) (raw)

The term contour currents was first introduced by Heezen et al in 1966 as bottom currents along the continental shelf driven by Coriolis effects and temperature/salinity dependent density gradients. Generally, the currents flow along depth contours, hence called contour currents. Sediments deposited and shaped by the contour currents are called contourites, which are commonly observed in continental rise.