We appreciate the comments by G. Shanmugam on the paper “A new classification system for mixed (turbidite-contourite) depositional systems: Examples, conceptual models and diagnostic criteria for modern and ancient records” by S. Rodrigues, FJ Hernández-Molina, M. Fonnesu, E. Miramontes, M. Rebesco, DC Campbell [Earth-Science Reviews (2022), 104,030]”. Most of the comments from G. Shanmugam refer to the sedimentary facies scale, with special emphasis on the distinct types of deposits and their definitions. It was quite a surprise that G. Shanmugam's comments did not include any remarks about the descriptions or discussions elaborated in Rodrigues et al.(2022a), such as the large-scale morphological features recognized in mixed (turbidite-contourite) depositional systems through bathymetric or seismic data or the newly proposed classification scheme. Rodrigues et al.(2022a) has a very brief sub-section on the sedimentary facies recognized in mixed systems (eg, Section 5.4 Sedimentary facies and deposits of mixed systems, page 22), which is based on a few key contributions from past literature (such as Mutti and Carminatti, 2012; Fonnesu et al., 2020; Rodrigues et al., 2022b). His comments appear to be a compilation of his own assertions and do not provide a clear link to the contribution of Rodrigues et al.(2022a) or to the study of mixed depositional systems.

Initially, G. Shanmugam focuses his comments on the multitude of turbidite and bottom current processes that occur in contourite and turbidite settings, as well as their definitions and models. He states that Rodrigues et al.,(2022a) proposed a new classification for mixed depositional systems “based on their notion that there is only one type of turbidite and that there is only one type of contourite in deep-marine systems”, but the authors have never made such a statement in their manuscript. He also reports that Rodrigues et al.(2022a)“failed to provide a clear and precise definition of the terms turbidite, contourite, and bottom current”, but nevertheless the authors have provided definitions and references for those terms. Accordingly, G. Shanmugam outlined four distinct problems in Rodrigues et al.(2022a) review paper, namely (1) the turbidite problem,(2) the contourite problem,(3) the bottom-current problem, and (4) the seismic geometry vs. sedimentology problem.