Impact of storms on mixed carbonate and siliciclastic shelves: insights from combined diffusive and fluid‐flow transport stratigraphic forward model

Abstract

A quantitative stratigraphic model of mixed carbonate/siliciclastic continental shelves is presented to investigate the relationships between depositional processes and stratigraphic responses at long‐term, large spatial scales. A diffusion model is combined with a fluid‐flow approach to simulate both long‐term factors, i.e. the processes controlling large‐scale architecture, and short‐term processes, i.e. sediment redistribution by storms. Any net sediment accumulation is the result of the succession of a storm and a fair‐weather period. Sediments are mobilized by waves and advected by low‐frequency currents during storm events. Sediments are then reworked and redistributed downslope by diffusive processes during fair‐weather period. The results are successful in capturing several major characteristics of both modern and ancient depositional systems (geometry, differential preservation, net accumulation rates). The study highlights the importance of waves and unidirectional currents. Depositional geometry and shelf morphology depend on the balance between available sediment supply (generated in situ or detrital) and the transport energy, which is related to the style of sediment transport (diffusive or advective), and to the magnitude and frequency of storms.

Influence of sedimentary setting on the use of magnetic susceptibility: examples from the Devonian of Belgium

“…Sedimentation rates correspond to a compilation from literature data (Reitner & Neuweiller, 1995; Yamano et al. , 2002; Quiquerez et al. , 2004; McNeill, 2005).…”

“…5). In carbonate platforms and ramps, the main trend is a decrease in the carbonate productivity with increasing depth, with maximum carbonate production in the reef zone or in the mid ramp (Quiquerez et al. , 2004; McNeill, 2005).…”

“…5). In carbonate platforms and ramps, the main trend is a decrease in the carbonate productivity with increasing depth, Influence of sedimentary setting on the use of magnetic susceptibility 1301 with maximum carbonate production in the reef zone or in the mid ramp (Quiquerez et al, 2004;McNeill, 2005). In the carbonate mound proper, the atoll crown represents the maximum production rate and the sedimentation rate is slightly lower in the lagoon (Yamano et al, 2002).…”

A Tale of Two Storms: An Integrated Field, Remote Sensing and Modelling Study Examining the Impact of Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne on Carbonate Systems, Bahamas

“…the shallow-marine stratigraphic record is built predominantly by high magnitude-low frequency processes rather than low magnitude-high frequency processes'. Similarly, Quiquerez et al (2004) wrote that '. .…”

Palaeoenvironments, palaeogeography, and physiography of a large, shallow, muddy ramp: Late Cenomanian‐Turonian Kaskapau Formation, Western Canada foreland basin

“…Third, although storm-driven geostrophic flows are now widely recognized as the most important process by which sediment is dispersed across shelves (e.g. Duke, 1990;Quiquerez et al, 2004), the Kaskapau Formation provides an opportunity to illustrate along-shelf and across-shelf transport with respect to a welldocumented palaeo-shoreline and, hence, delimit the shore-perpendicular extent of various facies belts. Fourth, recent studies of the lateral variability in the distribution of trace fossils in deltafront deposits (e.g.…”