Continental rises comprise approximately 10% of sedimentary processes by which modern and sub- the earth's surface and contain 20% of its total sedi- modern submarine fans and related features are ment volume ( 100 million cubic kilometers). How- constructed. To provide a broader perspective of conti- ever, their great depth (2,000-6,000 m) below the sea nental-rise evolution, we have organized this volume surface and distance from shore-based population cen- into four parts: ters, have kept them relatively insulated from man's geological explorations. During the last 10-15 years, 1. Part I...