How To Interpret, Understand, and Predict Stratal Geometries Using Stratal-Control Spaces and Stratal-Control-Space Trajectories

Burgess, Peter M.; Steel, R. J.

doi:10.2110/jsr.2017.19

Cited by 10 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Our analysis suggests bayhead deltas and their paired flood-tidal and barrier complexes may as well result from autogenic events related to the interplay of accommodation and sediment supply (auto-advance), as from enhanced tidal and wave action due to sea-level inundation (e.g., Zaitlin et al, 1994) or from increased sediment flux. Probabilistic methods could be used to assess whether the bayhead delta is more likely to result from one mechanism or the other (e.g., Burgess and Steel, 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Autogenic delta progradation during sea-level rise within incised valleys

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Foreman

Chen

et al. 2020

Geology

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Using a simple conceptual model of incised-valley evolution, we show that the classic sequence stratigraphic phenomenon of bayhead deltaic systems can be generated by purely autogenic progradation during the late stage of valley flooding. This transient “auto-advance” event occurs under conditions of constant base-level rise and sediment supply, and it results from a strong decrease of in-valley accommodation as base level rises toward the valley apex. We present a laboratory experiment to illustrate the plausibility of this mechanism and apply it to the incised valleys of the Trinity and Brazos Rivers (Texas, USA) as field case studies. Auto-advance can produce out-of-sequence regressive bayhead diastems during highstands similar to a transient change in allogenic forcing. Combined with other recent studies, our findings support the idea that mesoscale autogenic patterns are ubiquitous in the fluviodeltaic record and need to be more extensively incorporated into reconstructions of Earth surface evolution and reservoir models.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Autogenic delta progradation during sea-level rise within incised valleys

Guérit

Foreman

Chen

et al. 2020

Geology

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“…However, future work could improve both precision and accuracy of these estimates and improve understanding of how they vary at shorter time scales (<1 My). Future work should also focus on understanding the probability of occurrence of accommodation‐dominated and supply‐dominated sequences (e.g. Heller et al, ; Burgess & Steel, ), particularly under different tectonic, climatic and eustatic conditions, and taking into account possible interactions between autogenic processes and allogenic controls (Hajek & Straub, ; Muto, Steel, & Burgess, ). Perhaps many existing interpretations of accommodation‐dominated sequences need to be revisited, assessed and possibly revised.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sediment discharge and water discharge of modern rivers are summarised from Milliman and Syvitski (). The subsidence and eustatic sea‐level change data are modified after Burgess and Steel ()…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sediment discharge and water discharge of modern rivers are summarised from Milliman and Syvitski (1992). The subsidence and eustatic sea-level change data are modified after Burgess and Steel (2017) The transgressive strata are mostly within the valley, underlain by younger highstand strata (Figures 6a, and 7A).…”

Section: F I G U R Ementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thirdly, sequence boundaries can also form due to variable sediment erosion and transport rates, without relative sea-level fall (Burgess & Prince, 2015). This complexity of process and control, and the relative simplicity of many existing models, suggests that our understanding of sequence geometries and what controls them requires further investigation (Burgess & Steel, 2017;Hampson, 2016;Heller, Burns, & Marzo, 1993;Zhang, Steel, & Olariu, 2017). We approach these problems by studying the forward modelled sequences generated by full cycles of change in relative sea level or sediment supply.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Can sediment supply variations create sequences? Insights from stratigraphic forward modelling

et al. 2018

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Classic sequence stratigraphy suggests depositional sequences can form due to changes in accommodation and due to changes in sediment supply. Accommodation‐dominated sequences are problematic to define rigorously, but are commonly interpreted from outcrop and subsurface data. In contrast, supply‐dominated sequences are much less commonly identified. We employ numerical stratigraphic forward modelling to compare stratal geometries forced by cyclic changes in relative sea level with stratal geometries forced by sediment discharge and water discharge changes. Our quantitative results suggest that both relative sea‐level oscillations and variations in sediment/water discharge ratio are able to form sequence‐bounding unconformities independently, confirming previous qualitative sequences definitions. In some of the experiments, the two types of sequence share several characteristics, such as an absence of coastal‐plain topset deposits and stratal offlap, something typically interpreted as the result of falling relative sea level. However, the stratal geometries differ when variations in amplitude and frequency of relative sea‐level change, sediment/water discharge ratio, transport diffusion coefficient and initial bathymetry are applied. We propose that the supply‐dominated sequences could be recognised in outcrop or in the subsurface if the observations of stratal offlap and the absence of coastal‐plain topset can be made without any strong evidence of relative sea‐level fall (e.g. descending shoreline trajectory). These quantitative results suggest that both supply‐dominated and accommodation‐dominated sequences are likely to occur in the ancient record, as a consequence of multiple, possibly complex, controls.

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