Mass-balance control on the interaction of axial and transverse channel systems

We present a geometric, sediment mass-balance model for the interaction of axial and transverse alluvial systems in a subsiding basin. By comparing the model result with a fl ume experiment that employed a simplifi ed half-graben tectonic geometry with axial and transverse sediment sources, we quantify rates of axial-transverse erosional sediment mixing. In the experiment, the lateral migration rate of the axial-transverse boundaries due to the sediment mixing scales with sediment supplies delivered by transverse drainages, but not with water (or sediment) discharge from the axial channel or with tectonic tilting rate. Using an empirical lateral erosion rate, the model shows how sediment supply partitioning among the axial, hangingwall, and footwall drainages controls the width and the location of the axial-channel belt. Comparing the modeling results with fi eld cases demonstrates that transverse sediment fl uxes could slow the axial-channel migration or even reverse the movement against the tectonic forcing.