DYNAMIC STRATIGRAPHY WORKGROUP

Publications and presentations: 

 

Publications:

 

Conference/meeting presentations:

 

People:

Anjali Fernandes, David Mohrig, Jim Buttles, Andrew Petter, Ron Steel

Research question(s):

What are the processes responsible for deposition of the Lateral Accretion Packages  (Abreu et al, 2003) documented in sinuous submarine channels?

How similar are these packages to fluvial point-bar deposits?

Are they bedload dominated bars or suspension load dominated accretions accumulating in low velocity zones?

Lateral accretion packages in submarine channels: occurrence, geometry, and depositional processes

Summary of work:

This project integrates:

a) A detailed analysis of the geometric properties of lateral accretion packages and associated channel bends, mapped from hi-resolution seismic data;

b) Experimental data capturing flow behavior and channel-bend evolution through time, carried out in the Basin tank of the University of Texas Morphodynamics Laboratory.

c) Sedimentology and paleo-hydraulics of interpreted laterally accreting bar-forms in the Brushy Canyon Formation upper-slope turbidite channel outcrops.

Lateral accretion packages were mapped in detail from 3-D high resolution seismic data imaging two sinuous slope channel systems. Flow direction is bottom to top.

This figure shows the mapped geometric accretion surfaces imaged at the margins of this sinuous submarine channel, on 3-D seismic data. Flow in the figure was from right to left. Channel thalweg is shown by blue contours and each accretion reflection is coloured by elevation, with hot colours at the top and cold at the bottom.