Quantitative analysis of the stratigraphic architecture of incised-valley fills: A global comparison of Quaternary systems

Colombera, Luca; Mountney, Nigel P.

doi:10.1016/j.earscirev.2019.102988

Cited by 29 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 112 publications

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“…Incised valleys are elongated palaeotopographic lows commonly found on continental shelves and coastal plains developed by fluvial erosion in response to relative sea-level fall, subsequently flooded and infilled by fluvial, coastal and marine processes during relative sealevel rise. Their fill typically reflects this succession of processes, featuring basal fluvial sediments which are overlaid by estuarine and marine deposits (Allen and Posamentier, 1994;Ashley and Sheridan, 1994;Blum et al, 2013;Boyd et al, 2006;Dalrymple et al, 1994;Wang et al, 2020;Zaitlin et al, 1994). The sedimentary fill of incised valleys records the complex interplay of varied controlling factors, including sea-level fluctuations, climate, tectonics and sediment supply, and therefore reveal valuable information about earth-surface processes and the depositional history (Chaumillon et al, 2010;De Santis and Caldara, 2014;Mattheus and Rodriguez, 2011;Wang et al, 2020Wang et al, , 2019.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Their fill typically reflects this succession of processes, featuring basal fluvial sediments which are overlaid by estuarine and marine deposits (Allen and Posamentier, 1994;Ashley and Sheridan, 1994;Blum et al, 2013;Boyd et al, 2006;Dalrymple et al, 1994;Wang et al, 2020;Zaitlin et al, 1994). The sedimentary fill of incised valleys records the complex interplay of varied controlling factors, including sea-level fluctuations, climate, tectonics and sediment supply, and therefore reveal valuable information about earth-surface processes and the depositional history (Chaumillon et al, 2010;De Santis and Caldara, 2014;Mattheus and Rodriguez, 2011;Wang et al, 2020Wang et al, , 2019. In addition to these drivers, the role of antecedent morphology (either determined by the bedrock or by the pre-existent deposits) has recently gained more attention as a key factor explaining not only the complicated architecture recorded within incised valleys (Cartelle and García-Gil, 2019;Chaumillon et al, 2010Chaumillon et al, , 2008Gomes et al, 2016;Green, 2009;Menier et al, 2006;Ximenes Neto et al, 2021) but also exerting a strong control on the evolution of various coastal systems and shelf settings (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The role of antecedent morphology and changing sediment sources in the postglacial palaeogeographical evolution of an incised valley: The sedimentary record of the Ría de Arousa (NW Iberia)

Cartelle

García-Moreiras

Martínez-Carreño

et al. 2022

Global and Planetary Change

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of antecedent morphology and changing sediment sources in the postglacial palaeogeographical evolution of an incised valley: The sedimentary record of the Ría de Arousa (NW Iberia)

Cartelle

García-Moreiras

Martínez-Carreño

et al. 2022

Global and Planetary Change

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“…Widely adopted conceptual facies models and stratigraphic frameworks have been developed to explain and predict the distribution of sediment within incised valleys during transgression (Dalrymple et al, 1992a;Allen & Posamentier, 1993;Zaitlin et al, 1994;Heap et al, 2004). A recent study by Wang & et al (2020) demonstrated that 87 Quaternary incised valley fills showed similar stratigraphic organization comparable to the classic conceptual models (Dalrymple et al, 1992b;Allen & Posamentier, 1993;Zaitlin et al, 1994;Heap et al, 2004;Virolle et al, 2019) but displayed significant variability in the stratigraphic architecture of valley fills, related to continental margin type, inherited topography, river size, catchment area and shoreline hydrodynamics. Depending on the dominant hydrodynamics at the estuary mouth, two end-members have been recognized (Dalrymple et al, 1992a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stratigraphy and sedimentary evolution of a modern macro‐tidal incised valley: An analogue for reservoir facies and architecture

et al. 2021

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Incised valley fills are complex as they correspond to multiple sea-level cycles which makes interpretation and correlation of stratigraphic surfaces fraught with uncertainty. Despite numerous studies of the stratigraphy of incised valley fills, few have focused on extensive core coverage linked to high fidelity dating in a macro-tidal, tide-dominated setting. For this study nineteen sediment cores were drilled through the Holocene succession of the macro-tidal Ravenglass Estuary in north-west England, UK. A facies and stratigraphic model of the Ravenglass incised valley complex was constructed, to understand the lateral and vertical stacking patterns relative to the sea-level changes. The Ravenglass Estuary formed in five main stages. First, incision by rivers (ca 11 500 to ca 10 500 yrs BP) cutting through the shelf during lowstand, which was a period of fluvial dominance. Secondly, a rapid transgression and landward migration of the shoreline (10 500 to 6000 yrs BP). Wave action was dominant, promoting spit formation. The third stage was a highstand at ca 6000 to ca 5000 yrs BP, creating maximum accommodation and the majority of backfilling. The spits narrowed the inlet and dampened wave action. The fourth stage was caused by a minor fall of sea level (ca 5000 to ca 226 yrs BP), which forced the system to shift basinward. The fifth and final stage (226 yrs BP to present) involved the backfilling of the River Irt, southward migration of the northerly (Drigg) spit and merging of the River Irt with the Rivers Esk and Mite. The final stage was synchronous with the development of the central basin. As an analogue for ancient and deeply buried sandstones, most of the estuarine sedimentation occurred after transgression, of which the coarsest and cleanest sands are found in the tidal inlet, on the foreshore and within in-channel tidal bars. The best-connected (up to 1 km) reservoir-equivalent sands belong to the more stable channels.

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“…O'Mara et al ., 1999; Wignall & Best, 2000; George, 2001; Brettle et al ., 2002; cf. Wellner & Bartek, 2003; Wang et al ., 2020). Finally, high bedform preservation related to rapid falling stages of formative floods could be an alternative explanation (Leary & Ganti, 2020), and this would be consistent with the observations presented above relating to the coefficients of variation of cross‐set thickness.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Palaeohydrological characteristics and palaeogeographic reconstructions of incised‐valley‐fill systems: Insights from the Namurian successions of the United Kingdom and Ireland

Colombera

Mountney

2020

Sedimentology

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Namurian (Carboniferous) eustatic fluctuations drove the incision and backfill of shelf-crossing valley systems located in humid subequatorial regions, which are now preserved in successions of the United Kingdom and Ireland. The infills of these valleys archive the record of palaeoriver systems whose environmental, hydrological and palaeogeographic characteristics remain unclear. A synthesis of sedimentological data from fluvial strata of 18 Namurian incised-valley fills in the United Kingdom and Ireland is undertaken to elucidate the nature of their formative river systems and to refine regional palaeogeographic reconstructions. Quantitative analyses are performed of facies proportions, of geometries of incised-valley fills and related architectural elements, and of the thickness of dune-scale sets of cross-strata. Reconstruction of the size of the drainage areas that fed these valleys is attempted based on two integrative approaches: flow-depth estimations from dune-scale cross-set thickness statistics and scaling relationships of incised-valley fill dimensions derived from late-Quaternary examples. The facies organization of these incised-valley fills suggests that their formative palaeorivers were perennial and experienced generally low discharge variability, consistent with their climatic context; however, observations of characteristically low variability in cross-set thickness might reflect rapid flood recession, perhaps in relation to sub-catchments experiencing seasonal rainfall. Variations in facies characteristics, including inferences of flow regime and cross-set thickness distributions, might reflect the control of catchment size on river hydrology, importance of which is considered in light of data from modern rivers. Palaeohydrological reconstructions indicate that depth estimations from cross-set thickness contrast with observations of barform and channel-fill thickness, and projected thalweg depths exceed the depth of some valley fills. Limitations in data and interpretations and high bedform preservation are recognized as possible causes. With consideration of uncertainties in the inference of catchment size, the palaeogeography of the valley systems has been tentatively reconstructed by integrating existing provenance and sedimentological data. The approaches illustrated in this work can be replicated to the study of palaeohydrological characteristics and palaeogeographic reconstructions of incised-valley fills globally and through geological time.

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Quantitative analysis of the stratigraphic architecture of incised-valley fills: A global comparison of Quaternary systems

Cited by 29 publications

References 112 publications

The role of antecedent morphology and changing sediment sources in the postglacial palaeogeographical evolution of an incised valley: The sedimentary record of the Ría de Arousa (NW Iberia)

The role of antecedent morphology and changing sediment sources in the postglacial palaeogeographical evolution of an incised valley: The sedimentary record of the Ría de Arousa (NW Iberia)

Stratigraphy and sedimentary evolution of a modern macro‐tidal incised valley: An analogue for reservoir facies and architecture

Palaeohydrological characteristics and palaeogeographic reconstructions of incised‐valley‐fill systems: Insights from the Namurian successions of the United Kingdom and Ireland

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