Dishy Cretaceous submarine channels of the Western Interior Sea (Book Cliffs, Utah)

The Cretaceous Western Interior Sea once inundated eastern Utah and sediment that accumulated in it now forms the famous Book Cliffs. Countless geology and paleontology field trips and expeditions research these clastic deposits to learn about how shorelines and river systems evolve and respond to climate change, sea level, and a variety of other driving mechanisms. Fossils (especially ammonites) provide solid age dates for most of the deposits and high-tech drones and lidar have been helping build 3d models of the outcrop for classrooms and virtual field trips.
BUT 90% of field courses ignore the controversial and underappreciated submarine channel and lobes of the Hatch Mesa or Prairie Canyon sands. In this video, we’ll explore these excellent exposures of submarine channels to compare and contrast them with fluvial channels. We’ll test competing hypotheses and see them up close and personal! Dare to explore where others ignore!