Reduction of deltaic channel mobility by tidal action under rising relative sea level

Nathan Lentsch, Alvise Finotello, Chris Paola

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Scopus citations

Abstract

As Holocene river deltas continue to experience sea-level rise, sediment carried by distributary channels counteracts delta-plain drowning. Many deltas worldwide are subject to tidal action, which strongly affects the morphology of distributary channels and could also influence their mobility. Here we show, through physical laboratory experiments, that distributary-channel mobility can be dramatically reduced in systems affected by tides in comparison to an identical system with no tides, and that the mobility of distributary channels decreases as the ratio of tidal to fluvial energy increases. This effect occurs even if new accommodation space is created by rising relative sea level. By analyzing synthetic stratigraphy derived from both digital elevation data and time-lapse photography, we show also that the reduction of channel mobility in tidal deltas increases channel stacking and connectivity in the stratigraphic record.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)599-602
Number of pages4
JournalGeology
Volume46
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1 2018

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 Geological Society of America.

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