Experimental sequence stratigraphy of submarine fans on the basis of the theory of shoreline autoretreat

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The present research was to investigate how the development of deep-water, coarse-grained clastic environments is related to shoreline autoretreat. This problem has been solved by means of flume experiments and theoretical examinations, summarized as below.Deepwater clastic depositional systems can respond sensitively with shoreline autoretreat River deltas cannot prograde over hundreds of kilometers across their shelves during the interval of highstand systems tract development. Even if unlimited time is available to delta growth, there is a clear limit in delta progradation owing to a mechanism ('autobreak') inbuilt in a delta evolving during relative sea-level rise. The termination of the progradation may be far landward of shelf edge. The main factors controlling the limit of delta progradation and the occurrence time of the autobreak event include shelf width, rate of sediment supply, rate of relative-sea level rise, and geometrical parameters of the delta and shelf. It is not abs … More olutely impossible for shelf-edge deltas to be built during slightly rising relative sea level. However, stillstand and falling relative sea level much favor the development of shelf-edge deltas and of sand supply to deep-marine areas, in terms of the delta's travel time to shelf edge. The present study therefore supports the maintenance of the conventional sequence stratigraphic interpretation that sand-rich deep-marine systems are most easily developed during falling and lowstand of relative sea level.A comprehensive understanding of the autogenic response of fluvial deltas to the steady forcing is provided from the theory of shoreline autoretreat. Besides, both autoincision and autobreak represent the moment at which the delta has to lose its original geometry. Any of autostepping and autogenic terrace formation comes out from the effect of the principle of shoreline autoretreat combined with its autocyclic behavior. Allocyclic changes of dynamic conditions only enhance or reduce the inbuilt process of delta systems. Less