Upstream and downstream controls on sediment routing and deposition in a complete “source-to-sink” system
Tao Sun1, Rebecca L Caldwell2, Jacob A Covault3, Ashley Harris3, Kristy T Milliken4 and Kaitlin Elizabeth Moran5, (1)Chevron Energy Technology Company, Earth Science Dept., Houston, TX, United States, (2)Indiana University, Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, Bloomington, IN, United States, (3)Chevron Corporation Houston, Energy Technology Company, Houston, TX, United States, (4)Chevron Energy Technology Company, Houston, TX, United States, (5)Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
Abstract:
Filling of sedimentary basins involves the interplay of external and intrinsic controls, which operate over vastly different spatial and temporal scales. Here, we present computer simulations of complete, source-to-sink, sediment transfer from mountains to depositional basins. Simulations quantify the spatial and temporal effects of external and intrinsic controls on sediment erosion, transport, and deposition in four different sediment-routing scenarios defined by a combination of systems with large or small rivers flowing to wide or narrow continental shelves. These experiments inform predictions of stratigraphic preservation, architectural style, and lithologic variability across complete source-to-sink sedimentary systems.
