High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! A contourite is a sedimentary deposit produced by thermohaline-induced deepwater bottom currents and may be influenced by wind or tidal forces. Most contourites are formed in continental rise to lower slope settings, although they may occur anywhere that is below storm wave base. The geomorphology of contourite deposits is mainly influenced by the deepwater bottom-current velocity, sediment supply, and seafloor topography.