<P> The formation of submarine canyons is believed to occur as the result of at least two main process : 1 ) erosion by turbidity current erosion ; and 2 ) slumping and mass wasting of the continental slope . While at first glance , the erosion patterns of submarine canyons may appear to mimic those of river - canyons on land , due to the markedly different erosion processes that have been found to take place underwater at the soil / water interface , several notably different erosion patterns have been observed in the formation of typical submarine canyons . </P>
the continental slope is cut by submarine canyons thought to be formed by
erosion by turbidity current erosion slumping and mass wasting of the continental slope