--> Abstract: Autogenic Processes in Physical Stratigraphy, by Chris Paola, Douglas J. Jerolmack, Wonsuck Kim, and John Martin; #90078 (2008)

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Autogenic Processes in Physical Stratigraphy

Chris Paola1, Douglas J. Jerolmack2, Wonsuck Kim3, and John Martin1
1Dept. Geology & Geophysics, Univ. Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
2Dept. Earth and Environmental Science, Univ. Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
3Dept. Geology, Univ. Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL

Depositional systems have a remarkable capacity to create and record internal (autogenic) dynamics. We illustrate this with experimental cases including shoreline fluctuations, terraces, and spontaneously formed lakes. Consistent features of autogenic processes emerging from the experiments include (1) they are commonly associated with local sediment storage and release caused by the strongly nonlinear nature of sediment transport, and (2) in many cases they have characteristic scales (time, space, and amplitude) that can be constrained using relatively simple geometric arguments. The maximum autogenic time scale appears to be significantly larger than commonly thought: of the order of 10 - 100 kyr. We close with initial evidence that autogenic sediment storage and release can destroy input signals that fall within well defined limits of frequency and amplitude.

 

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90078©2008 AAPG Annual Convention, San Antonio, Texas