Source to Sink Systems in the Cretaceous Western Interior of North America

拟议的研究是我的长期研究计划的一部分白垩纪源-汇盆地分析，结合高分辨率层序地层学，与一个更广泛的目标，连接我们的海平面变化的地层分析，新兴的全球天体年代学周期图。我的团队还专注于研究单元内砂岩元素的储层表征，并将其应用于碳氢化合物工业。 我们的主要重点是在白垩纪的“温室”沉积序列在北美西部内陆海道。详细的实地和地下研究旨在回答有关沉积盆地填充的大规模地层控制问题（例如，eutenance与构造），以及与较小规模沉积单元的形成过程有关的同样重要的问题，特别关注基于河流沉积物分析的古流量估计。 高分辨率露头和地下地层分析，结合测时和生物地层控制，能够阐明全球“温室”中的旋回性质和程度。有证据表明气候驱动的米兰科维奇尺度的周期性，这表明白垩纪并不是一个无冰的时期，正如一些人所假设的那样。温室期的气候和海平面记录可用于预测未来的温室情景，例如可能由目前社会关注的气候变化引起的温室情景。该研究还侧重于使用沉积系统（特别是物源和古流量的研究，古流域盆地的大小和救济，山区带，古气候和板块构造重建内的排水系统的连通性的推断）的信息。岩相分析结合年龄测定的碎屑锆石被用来评估物源和流域，以及构造控制沉积。碎屑锆石的年代测定也可以帮助建立河流沉积物的年代学，特别是当与结合生物地层控制的锆石年代测定结合使用时。 我们还采用了更新的技术，特别是使用与GPS/GIS集成的无人机（UAV或“无人机”）来捕获3D虚拟露头。这些数据集包括白垩纪河道带的平面图图像，以及各种河流和浅海相的悬崖面。这些数字数据集允许详细的相结构分析，否则无法访问的部分。 除了科学和社会相关性，我们的研究直接适用于加拿大能源部门。

The proposed research is part of my long-term research program on Cretaceous source-to-sink basin analysis, incorporating high-resolution sequence stratigraphy, with an even broader goal of linking our stratigraphic analysis of sea level changes to emerging global astrochronological cycle charts. My group is also focused on reservoir characterization of sandstone elements within studied units, with application to the hydrocarbon industry.  Our primary focus is on Cretaceous "greenhouse" sedimentary sequences in the Western Interior Seaway of North America. Detailed field and subsurface studies are designed to answer questions about the larger-scale stratigraphic controls on sedimentary basin fills (e.g. eustasy versus tectonics), and equally important questions relating to the formative processes of smaller-scale sedimentary units, with a specific focus on paleodischarge estimates based on analysis of river deposits. High-resolution outcrop and subsurface stratigraphic analysis, integrated with chronometric and biostratigraphic control, enable the elucidation of the nature and degree of cyclicity in a global "Greenhouse". There is evidence of climate-driven Milankovitch-scale cyclicity, suggesting that the Cretaceous was not an ice-free time, as has been hypothesized by some. Documentation of the climate and sea-level in a greenhouse period can be used to predict future greenhouse scenarios, such as may result from the anthropogenically-induced climate change that is of present societal concern. The research is also focused on using information from the depositional system (especially provenance and paleodischarge studies of the fossilized trunk rivers) to make inferences about paleo-drainage basin size and relief, connectivity of drainage systems within mountain belts, paleoclimate, and plate-tectonic reconstructions. Petrographic analysis combined with age-dating of detrital zircons is used to evaluate provenance and drainage area, as well as tectonic controls on sedimentation. Age-dating of detrital zircons can also help establish the chronology of river deposits, especially when used in conjunction with age dates from bentonites integrated with biostratigraphic control. We are also incorporating newer technologies, and particularly the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV's or "drones") integrated with GPS/GIS to capture 3D virtual outcrops. These datasets include plan-view images of Cretaceous channel belts, as well as cliff-faces of a variety of fluvial and shallow marine facies. These digital datasets allow for detailed facies architectural analysis of otherwise inaccessible sections. In addition to the scientific and societal relevance, our research is directly applicable to the Canadian energy resources sector.