The West Philippine basin (WPB) is a currently inactive marginal basin belonging to Philippine Sea plate, which has a complex formation history and various crust structures. Based on gravity, magnetic and seismic data, the tectonics in West Philippine basin is characterized by amagma spreading stage and strike slip fractures. NNE trending Okinawa-Luzon fracture zone is a large fracture zone with apparent geomorphology and shows a right-handed movement. The results of joint gravity-magnetic-seismic inversion suggest that the Okinawa-Luzon fracture zone has intensive deformation and is a transform fault. Western existence of the NW trending fractures under Ryukyu Islands Arc is the main cause of the differences between south and north Okinawa Trough. The Urdaneta plateau is not a remained arc, but remnant of mantle plume although its lava chemistry is similar to oceanic island basalt (OIB).
Side-scan sonar data collected by Cruises 99-09 Leg 2 and 00-06 Leg 1 of R/V Yokosuka were used to reveal the sedimentary processes in Zenisu deep-sea channel. The middle and lower segments of the channel are rich in turbidite and other debrite deposits. By high-resolution imaging, three sedimentary processes were distinguished with distinct acoustic features. 1. Slumps and slides occur with contrasting backscatter, rough surface textures, blockings, and acoustic shadows at headwalls. They are very extensive and often in lobate form downslope. 2. Debris flow has uniform, general medium backscatter, sometimes showing marbling/lineation in lobate form. 3. Turbidity current is characterized by low backscatter confined to the channel as acoustic signal is attenuated. Regional tectonics must be the dominating factor that controls deposition pattern in this area.
