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1.
We investigated seasonal and tidal-monthly, suspended particulate matter (SPM) dynamics in the Columbia River estuary from May to December 1997 using acoustic backscatter (ABS) and velocity data from four long-term Acoustic Doppler Profiler (ADP) moorings in or near the estuarine turbidity maximum (ETM). ABS profiles were calibrated and converted to total SPM profiles using pumped SPM samples and optical backscatter (OBS) data obtained during three seasonal cruises. Four characteristic settling velocity (W s) classes were defined from Owen Tube samples collected during the cruises. An inverse analysis, in the form of a non-negative least squares minimization, was used to determine the contribution of the four,W s-classes to each, total SPM profile. The outputs from the inverse analyses were 6–8 mo time-series ofW s-specific SPM concentration and transport profiles at each mooring. The profiles extended from the free surface to 1.8–2.7 m from the bed, with 0.25–0.50 m resolution. These time series, along with Owen Tube results and disaggregated size data, were used to investigate SPM dynamics. Three non-dimensional parameters were defined to investigate how river flow and tidal forcing affect particle trapping: Rouse numberP (balance between vertical mixing and settling) trapping efficiencyE (ratio of maximum SPM concentration in the estuary to fluvial source concentration), and advection numberA (ratio of height of maximum SPM concentration to friction velocity). The most effective particle trapping (maximum values ofE) occurs on low-flow neap tides. The location of the ETM and the maximal trapping migrated seasonally in a manner consistent with the increase in salinity intrusion length after the spring freshet. Maximum advection (high values ofA) occurred during highly stratified neap tides.  相似文献   

2.
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3.
Using both the photosynthetically active chlorophylla (chla) content of the organic carbon fraction of suspended particulate matter (chla/POC) and the percentage of photosynthetically, active chla in fluorometrically measured chla plus pheophytina (% chla), we determined that under specified hydrodynamic conditions, neap-spring tidal differentiation in particle dynamics could be observed in the Columbia River estuary. During summer time neap tides, when river discharge was moderate, bottom chla/POC remained relatively unchanged from riverine chla/POC over the full 0–30 psu salinity range, suggesting a benign trapping environment. During summertime spring tides, bottom chla/POC decreased at mid range salinities indicating resuspension of chla-poor POC during flood-ebb transitions. Bottom % chla during neap tides tended to average higher than that during spring tides, suggesting that neap particles were more recently hydrodynamically trapped than those on the spring tides. Such differentiation supported the possibility of operation of a particle conveyor belt process, a process in which low-amplitude neap tides favor selective particle trapping in estuarine turbidity maxima (ETM)., while high-amplitude spring tides favor particle resuspension from the ETM. Untrapped river-derived particles at the surface would continue through the estuary to the coastal ocean on the neap tide; during spring tide some particles eroded from the ETM would combine with unsettled riverine particles in transit toward the ocean. Because in tensified biogeochemical activity is associated with ETM, these neap-spring differences may be critical to maintenance and renewal of populations and processes in the estuary. Very high river discharge (15, 000 m3 s−1) tended to overwhelm neap-spring differences, and significant oceanic input during very low river discharge (5,000 m3 s−1) tended to do the same in the estuarine channel most exposed to ocean input. During heavy springtime phytoplankton blooms, development of a thick bottom fluff layer rich in chla also appeared to negate neapspring differentiation because spring tides apparently acted to resuspend the same rich bottom material that was laid down during neap tides. When photosynthetic assimilation numbers [μgC (μgchl,a)−1h−1] were measured across, the full salinity range, no neap-spring differences and no river discharge effects occurred, indicating that within our suite of measurements the compositional distinction of suspended particulate material was mainly a function of chla/POC, and to a lesser extent % chla. Even though these measurements suggest the existence of a conveyor belt process, proof of actual operation of this phenomenon requires scalar flux measurements of chla properties in and out of the ETM on both neap and spring tides.  相似文献   

4.
The morphology and migration rate of tidal bedforms are important because of their use in interpretation of modern and ancient sediment transport regimes. Tidal flow, megaripple morphology and migration were studied in the mesotidal Mawddach Estuary, North Wales, to examine the veracity of published flow-bedform relationships, quantify spatial variations in migration and assess consequences for palaeoflow reconstruction. Two transects were surveyed along a megarippled intertidal shoal (mean grain size 280 μm) for a period of 22 semi-diurnal tidal cycles. A vertical array of current meters recorded tidal current profiles at the centre of one of the transects. Flood tidal currents dominate at Fegla Fach shoal, with peak velocities over 1 m s?1 at spring tides, and 0.5 m s ?1 at neaps, and bed sediment transport was also flood-dominated. Over the lunar cycle, the morphology of the megaripples on the survey lines was divisible into three phases: 1 the neap mode-consisting of near-moribund two-dimensional (2-D) flood-orientated megaripples of wavelength c. 6 m and height c. 0.2 m; 2 a transitional mode-where, on rising tidal ranges, scour pits formed and developed into 3-D megaripples which underwent net migration with the flood tide; 3 the spring mode-consisting of 3-D megaripples of wavelength c. 4 m and height c. 0.2 m. Despite complete re-orientation by the ebb tide, these were recognizable from one low water survey to the next, and net migration was c. 1 m per tide with the flood tide. We infer the presence of the equilibrium ‘spring tidal form’ occurring as flood-orientated megaripples during the flood tide. The data support previously reported separation of 2-D and 3-D megaripples at a depth to grain size ratio of 8000, and at a depth-mean velocity of the dominant tide (Umaxdom) of 0.75-0.8 m s?1. A migration threshold exists at Umaxdom of c. 0.53-0.57 m s?1. Measures of migration which might be used on preserved sections have been applied to the data. These measures systematically overestimated bedform migration at most stages of the lunar cycle (by <25% at spring tides and <140% in the post-spring transition period), but were accurate when the megaripples had developed into their 'spring tidal form’. There is significant variation of migration rates within the survey populations. We conclude that whilst the occurrence of megaripple cross-sets may be used as a palaeoflow indicator, and sedimentary structures associated with 2-D to 3-D transitions may also be indicative of palaeoflows, there are likely to be significant uncertainties involved in using tidal bundles as an indication of sediment transport rates.  相似文献   

5.
An ephemeral estuarine turbidity maximum (ETM) occurs at high water in the macrotidal Taf estuary (SW Wales, United Kingdom). A new mechanism of ETM formation, due to resuspension and advection of material by flood tidal currents, is observed that differs from classical mechanisms of gravitational circulation and tidal pumping. The flood tide advances across intertidal sand flats in the main body of the estuary, progressively entraining material from the rippled sands. Resuspension creates, a turbid front that has suspended sediment concentrations (SSC) of about 4,000 mg I−1 by the time it reaches its landward limit which is also the landward limit of salt penetration. This turbid body constitutes the ETM. Deposition occurs at high slack water but the ETM retains SSC values up to 800 mg I−1, 1–2 orders of magnitude greater than ambient SSC values in the river and estuarine waters on either side. The ETM retreats down the estuary during the ebb; some material is deposited thinly across emergent intertidal flats and some is flushed out of the estuary. A new ETM is generated by the next flood tide. Both location and SSC of the ETM scale on Q/R3 where Q is tidal range and R is river discharge. The greatest expression of the ETM occurs when a spring tide coincides with low river discharge. It does not form during high river discharge conditions and is poorly developed on neap tides. Particles in the ETM have effective densities (120–160 kg m−3) that are 3–4 times less than those in the main part of the estuary at high water. High chlorophyll concentrations in the ETM suggest that flocs probably originate from biological production in the estuary, including production on the intertidal sand flats.  相似文献   

6.
Bertioga Channel is a partially mixed (type 2) tidal estuary on the coastal plain of São Paulo, Brazil. Hourly current and salinity measurements during neap and spring tides in July 1991 yielded information about the physical structure of the system. Peak along-channel velocities varied from 40 cm s?1 to 60 cm s?1 during flood tides and from 70 cm s?1 to 100 cm s?1 during ebb tides. Net vertical velocity profiles indicate that the net current reverses directions at a depth of 2.5–3.0 m in the halocline. Due to appreciable fortnightly tidal modulation, the estuary alternates from being highly stratified (type 2b) during neap tides, with advection and diffusion contributing equally to the net upstream salt flux, to being moderately stratified (type 2a) during spring tides, when 90% of the net upstream salt transport is the result of effective tidal diffusion. Decomposition of the salt flux indicates that the relative contribution to the upstream salt transport by gravitational circulation shear is greater than the oscillatory tidal flux by a factor of 2.6 during neap tides. The oscillatory tidal flux is generated by the correlation of the tidal components of the u-velocity and salinity and is responsible for approximately the same amount of upstream salt transport, during neap and spring tides. However, during spring tides, this oscillatory term is greater than the other salt flux terms by a factor of 1.4. The total salt transport, through a unit width of the section perpendicular to the flow, was within 2% of the sum of the seven major decomposed, advective and dispersive terms. On the assumption that the Bertioga Channel is laterally homogeneous, the results also indicate that the estuary is not in steady state with respect to salt flux.  相似文献   

7.
Current understanding of bedform dynamics is largely based on field and laboratory observations of bedforms in steady flow environments. There are relatively few investigations of bedforms in flows dominated by unsteadiness associated with rapidly changing flows or tides. As a consequence, the ability to predict bedform response to variable flow is rudimentary. Using high‐resolution multibeam bathymetric data, this study explores the dynamics of a dune field developed by tidally modulated, fluvially dominated flow in the Fraser River Estuary, British Columbia, Canada. The dunes were dominantly low lee angle features characteristic of large, deep river channels. Data were collected over a field ca 1·0 km long and 0·5 km wide through a complete diurnal tidal cycle during the rising limb of the hydrograph immediately prior to peak freshet, yielding the most comprehensive characterization of low‐angle dunes ever reported. The data show that bedform height and lee angle slope respond to variable flow by declining as the tide ebbs, then increasing as the tide rises and the flow velocities decrease. Bedform lengths do not appear to respond to the changes in velocity caused by the tides. Changes in the bedform height and lee angle have a counterclockwise hysteresis with mean flow velocity, indicating that changes in the bedform geometry lag changes in the flow. The data reveal that lee angle slope responds directly to suspended sediment concentration, supporting previous speculation that low‐angle dune morphology is maintained by erosion of the dune stoss and crest at high flow, and deposition of that material in the dune trough.  相似文献   

8.
Observations of current velocity profiles and hydrography over and near a tall sill in a Chilean glacial fjord are used to illustrate the interactions between barotropic and baroclinic tides. The character of the barotropic tide in the glacial fjord is mixed with semidiurnal dominance. The ratio of sill height to water column depth at the study site is ca. 0.95. Water column stratification appeared only in the upper 5 m of the water column. Current velocity variations in the stratified surface layer were quite different to those underneath. Below the pycnocline, nonlinear interactions between semidiurnal M2 and diurnal K1 oscillations yielded a third-diurnal distortion MK3. Most interesting, surface layer currents were distortedby the superposition of semidiurnal M2 and sixthdiurnal M6 oscillations. The oscillations with M6 variability were identified, through wave superposition approaches, as reflected internal tides linked to M2 tidal variations. This was confirmed by theoretical results of stratified barotropic tidal flows interacting with abrupt bathymetry. Under the predominantly tidally mixed regime of the study area, the distortion to surface currents caused by the reflected wave was nearly symmetric during the large tidal ranges of the diurnal cycle. Nearly symmetric distortions resulted as the phase lag between incident and reflected wave-inducted currents was small (reflected currents developing a few minutes after maximum tidal flows). During the small ranges of the diurnal cycle, distortions were asymmetrical because of the relatively larger phase lags of the reflected signal (reflected currents developing tens of minutes after maximum tidal flows).  相似文献   

9.
The larvae of winter spawning fishes immigrating through Beaufort Inlet into the Pamlico Sound estuarine system (North Carolina, United States) were passively sampled during 14 flood tides and nine of the following ebb tides. Five taxa were abundant in the catches. Pelagic species were represented by Atlantic menhaden, Brevoortia tyrannus. Nonpelagic taxa were represented by Atlantic croaker, Micropogonias undulatus, spot, Leiostomus xanthurus, pinfish, Lagodon rhomboides, and flatfishes of the genus Paralichthys. The sampling was continuous and the sample duration varied between 4 min and 32 min. The longest samples furnished the most accurate and precise estimates of the mean tidal abundance. Sampling 10 min each hour of the tide was the most efficient protocol for determining the mean tidal abundance. The abundance patterns was shown to differ according to the pelagic or nonpelagic behavior of the larvae. Analyses suggested the nonpelagic taxa rely on astronomical tides and vertical migrations synchronous with the direction of the tide flow to be transported upstream in the estuary. These larvae were not dependent upon the strength of the tide to penetrate the inlet. In contrast, menhaden larvae seemed to rely primarily on strong food tides to enter the estuarine area, probably because the vertical positioning of the species within the water column is not dependent upon the direction of the tide. However, if larvae were present outside of the inlet, strong flood tides indiscriminately brought pelagic and nonpelagic species into the estuary.  相似文献   

10.
Tidal variability in the water quality of an urbanized estuary   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  
Tide and water quality data were collected concurrently in the Hackensack River estuary (HRE), a tidal tributary of the New York-new Jersey Harbor estuary. Harmonic analyses of tidal elevation data indicate that HRE tides are predominantly semidiurnal, though modulated by diurnal and fortnightly components. Nearly uniform tidal ranges (averaging approximately 1.6 m) were observed at three stations within the HRE. Periodogram estimates reveal significant tidal variability for the water quality parameter NH4−N under dry-weather conditions. Lag correlation analyses associate NH4−N concentration variations with water level fluctuations. Longitudinal profile plots for NH4−N reveal a consistent pattern of tidal translations, with peak concentrations oscillating about a major wastewater discharger. These analyses suggest that the distribution of NH4−N concentrations in the HRE is controlled primarily by major point source loadings and horizontal advection. A simplified, one-dimensional model is used to describe this distribution. Effects of tidal variability in masking water quality status and waak trends are also analyzed. These analyses highlight the potential importance of short-term water quality variability in tidal estuaries where concentration gradients are large.  相似文献   

11.
When gravity survey accuracies of a few microgals are sought, many correction factors must be accounted for, including meter calibration constants, water-table level fluctations, solid-earth tides, ocean tides and in some cases rapid atmospheric fluctuations. Calculation of most of these correction factors is relatively straightforward. However, the effects of ocean tide loading are not as easily estimated, partly due to the lack of knowledge of the ocean tides themselves. Amplitude and phase factors for the better-known ocean tide components O1 and M2 have been theoretically computed for a grid in southern California in order to correct gravity survey data at arbitrary locations for these ocean tidal-loading components. The gravity data from a three-month period were recorded on a tidal gravimeter at the station PAS and then hand-digitized in order to test the ocean tide estimation program. The O1 and M2 ocean tidal components were effectively reduced to less than 0.5 μGal. The remaining high-frequency tidal components appear to be K1 and S2. If the ocean tides are not taken into account, as much as 16–20 μGal of error can occur solely due to the effect of ocean loading on the gravitational tides when comparing two surveys near Pasadena. The effect increases towards the coastline and decreases inland. Examples of reduced data from the CIT gravity survey network, which has been observed on an approximately monthly basis since 1974, will be shown.  相似文献   

12.
The Hörnum tidal inlet is located in the German sector of the Wadden Sea between the barrier islands Sylt and Amrum. On the basis of seven bathymetric surveys of the tidal inlet covering a 55-yr period from 1939 to 1994 and long-term records from two tide gauges, a process-response analysis for the inlet was carried out. Following the method described by Dean and Walton (1975), the volume of sediment stored in the ebb–tidal delta (Vebd) was calculated for each survey. Furthermore, the cross-sectional area of the tidal inlet throat (Ac), and the area-height distribution (hypsographic curve) of the study area were established. Between 1939 and 1994, Ac increased by about 32%, whereas Vebd diminished by about 18%. Earlier investigations by, e.g., O'Brien (1931), Walton and Adams (1976), Dean (1988), and Eysink and Biegel (1992) documented a strong positive correlation between these two morphological parameters and tidal currents in the inlet. In conformity with the literature, regression of the values of Ac with the corresponding fall velocities of the water level in the inlet (a direct indication of ebb–tidal currents) produced a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.87. However, Vebd shows a weak negative correlation (r=−0.74) with fall velocities of the water level. Apparently, other factors than changes in ebb–tidal currents must have been responsible for the decrease in Vebd. It is suggested that one factor might be the observed considerable increase in storminess, i.e. wave action, in the region since approximately 1960. Consequently, storm wave action on the ebb–tidal delta intensified and erosion was here initiated. As a result, the swash bars of the ebb–tidal delta, in particular, suffered from severe erosion between 1959 and 1994. As the ebb–tidal currents increased simultaneously, sand supply to the terminal lobe of the ebb–tidal delta increased as well, thereby balancing the loss of sediment from the terminal lobe caused by the increasing storminess. The results of this case study indicate that the ratio of ebb–tidal currents to (storm) wave action determines, in large part, the value of Vebd.  相似文献   

13.
Suspended sediment transport processes in a short tidal embayment with a simple geometry are investigated using analytic and numerical models. On the basis of numerical results, the horizontal gradient of depth-averaged suspended sediment concentration can be parameterized with a combination of the first harmonic and mean. Using the parameterization, the solution of the analytic model is obtained. Evaluation of the major terms from the solution of the analytic model shows that a quarter-diurnal frequency is significant near the mouth while a semidiurnal component dominates the interior area. The settling lag consists of local and nonlocal components. The local phase lag is a function of the ratio between tidal period and settling time. The nonlocal phase lag is determined by the phase difference between tidal velocity and the horizontal gradient of sediment concentration and by the strength of erosion and horizontal advection.  相似文献   

14.
Barron (Trans ASCE 113:718–724, 1948) theoretical relationship between degree of consolidation (U r ) and time factor (T r ) is generally used to determine the coefficient of radial consolidation c r . Several researchers have proposed different laboratory techniques for obtaining the value of c r . However, the usual approach is to compare some salient features of the theoretical U r –T r relationship with the compression, δ and time, t based on the laboratory data. In this paper, rapid consolidation test procedure originally proposed by Su (J Soil Mech Found Div Am Soc Civ Eng No. 95: Proc. Pap. 1729 (1–9), 1958) to determine the coefficient of vertical consolidation (c v ) is extended to evaluate Barron’s coefficient of radial consolidation c r for the case of equal strain. The characteristic feature of the proposed method is the identification of the steepest tangent from the δ–log t plot. The slope of steepest tangent is independent of the drain spacing ratio (n) with a value of 0.847. This approach is rapid, and it predicts more reliable values of c r as it is less influenced by the secondary compression. In addition, this method is more versatile and can be applied for consolidation trends which do not always exhibit the typical S-shape.  相似文献   

15.
Systematic studies on the suspended particulate matter (SPM) measured on a seasonal cycle in the Mandovi Estuary, Goa indicate that the average concentrations of SPM at the regular station are ∼20mg/l, 5mg/l, 19mg/l and 5mg/l for June–September, October–January, February–April and May, respectively. SPM exhibits low-to-moderate correlation with rainfall indicating that SPM is also influenced by other processes. Transect stations reveal that the SPM at sea-end stations of the estuary are at least two orders of magnitude greater than those at the river-end during the monsoon. Estuarine turbidity maximum (ETM) of nearly similar magnitude occurs at the same location in two periods, interrupted by a period with very low SPM concentrations. The ETM occurring in June–September is associated with low salinities; its formation is attributed to the interactions between strong southwesterly winds (5.1–5.6ms−1) and wind-induced waves and tidal currents and, dominant easterly river flow at the mouth of the estuary. The ETM occurring in February–April is associated with high salinity and is conspicuous. The strong NW and SW winds (3.2–3.7ms−1) and wind-driven waves and currents seem to have acted effectively at the mouth of the estuary in developing turbidity maximum. The impact of sea breeze appears nearly same as that of trade winds and cannot be underestimated in sediment resuspension and deposition  相似文献   

16.
Particulate trace metal (Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn) and major element (Fe, Mn and Al) concentrations have been determined following intensive sampling over two consecutive spring tidal cycles in the 'turbidity maximum zone' (TMZ) of the Port Jackson estuary, Australia. Salinity, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, suspended particulate matter (SPM) and chlorophyll a were also determined. A three-factor analysis of variance was used to test temporal variability in concentrations of particulate trace metals and major elements as a result of tidal oscillation. Estuarine master variables, such as temperature and pH, varied within a narrow range; nevertheless, the tidal signal was clear for surface and bottom waters. In surface water, no variance was detected in SPM concentrations between consecutive tidal cycles or between tidal stages (i.e. flood, ebb and slack water). In bottom water, however, SPM concentrations were significantly higher (PА.05) at flood tide than at slack high water and ebb tide. Concentrations of particulate trace metals and major elements in surface water do not display significant variability between tidal cycles or stages. Nevertheless, differences within each tidal stage were significant (PА.05) for all elements. In bottom water, only particulate Fe and Al exhibited significant differences (PА.05) between tidal cycles, whereas particulate Ni was the only trace element that presented significant differences (PА.05) between tidal stages, following the distribution of SPM, with highest concentrations at flood tide. Among the metals studied, significant variation was found at all three temporal scales examined (i.e. from hours to consecutive tidal cycles), although the patterns of variation were different for each metal. The semi-diurnal fluctuation of SPM and particulate trace metal concentrations during spring tides is interpreted as a resuspension-deposition cycle caused by cyclical oscillations of bottom currents. The results are discussed in the context of the implications of tidal cycle influence on the geochemistry and cycling of particulate trace metals in the Port Jackson estuary.  相似文献   

17.
On different time scales of suspended matter dynamics in the Weser estuary   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  
Long-term observations in the Weser estuary (Germany) between 1983 and 1997 provide insight into the response of the estuarine turbidity maximum (ETM) under a wide range of conditions. In this estuary the turbidity zone is closely tied to the mixing zone, and the positions of the ETM and the mixing zone vary with runoff. The intratidal suspended particulate matter (SPM) concentrations vary due to deposition during slack water periods, subsequent resubsequent and depletion of temporarily-formed and spatially-limited deposits during the following ebb or flood, and subsequent transport by tidal currents. The corresponding time history of SPM concentrations is remarkably constant over the years. Spring tide SPM concentrations can be twice the neap tide concentrations or even larger. A hysteresis in SPM levels between the falling and rising spring-neap cycle is attributed to enhanced resuspension by the stronger spring tidal currents. There is evidence that the ETM is pushed up-estuary during times of higher mean water levels due to storms. During river floods the ETM is flushed towards the outer estuary. If river floods and their decreasing parts occur during times of relatively high mean water levels, the ETM seems to be maintained in the outer estuary. If river floods and their decreasing parts occur during times of relatively low mean water levels, the ETM seems to loose inventory and may need up to half a year of non-event conditions to gain its former magnitude. During this time seasonal effects may be involved. Analyses of storm events and river floods have revealed that the conditions in the seaward boundary region play an equally important role for the SPM dynamics as those arising from the river.  相似文献   

18.
Measurements of sand transport by wind on a natural beach   总被引：6，自引：0，他引：6  
Bagnold's (1954) and Kawamura's (1951) formulae may be used for the calculation of the sand movement on a natural beach, provided the shear stress velocity U* > 0·D4 m/s. Great discrepancies have been found between calculated and measured sand transport rates for U* < 0·D4 m/s, mainly because of the capillary forces acting on a wet beach. The measured critical shear velocity U*c at the beginning of sand movement on a clean dry beach agrees very well with that predicted by Bagnold's formula. On a dry beach where the sand grains are stuck together, U*c was found to be about 10% higher. On a wet beach U*c appeared to depend on the moisture content of the surface layer. Grain size is a determining parameter in the U*c-moisture content relation. When the angle a between the wind direction at sea and the dune face is between 15° and 85° the streamlines of the wind will bend in the vicinity of the dune face. In consequence this may influence the direction of sediment movement.  相似文献   

19.
The fluvial–tidal transition (FTT) is a complex depositional zone, where fluvial flow is modified by tides as rivers approach a receiving marine basin. Variations in the relative importance of tidal versus fluvial processes lead to a distinctive distribution of sediments that accumulate on channel bars. The FTT generally consists of three broad zones: (1) a freshwater-tidal zone; (2) a tidally influenced freshwater to brackish-water transition; and (3) a zone of relatively sustained brackish-water conditions with stronger tides. A very common type of deposit through the fluvial–tidal transition, especially on the margins of migrating channels, is inclined heterolithic stratification (IHS). At present, a detailed account of changes in the character of IHS across the FTT of a paleo-channel system has not been reported, although a number of modern examples have been documented. To fill this gap, we quantitatively assess the sedimentology and ichnology of IHS from seven cored intervals in three geographic areas situated within the youngest paleovalley (“A” Valley) in the Lower Cretaceous McMurray Formation of Alberta, Canada. We compare the data to trends defined along the FTT in the present-day Fraser River in British Columbia, Canada to interpret paleo-depositional position in the ancient fluvial–tidal channels.Analysis determined that the mean mudstone thickness is 8.2 cm in the southern study area (SA). Mean thickness increases to 11 cm in the central study area (CA), and decreases again to 4.4 cm in the northern study area (NA). The proportion of mudstone is 31% in SA, 44% in CA, and 27% in NA. Thickness-weighted mean bioturbation intensity in sands varied from 0.29 in SA and CA, to 0.28 in NA. On the other hand, thickness-weighted mean bioturbation intensity (BI) in mudstone increases from 1.46 in SA, to 1.77 in CA, and is 1.94 in NA. The ichnological diversity also increased from south to north.Sedimentological results show similar trends to those of the Fraser River, enabling the identification of a freshwater to brackish-water transition zone with tidal influence. The interpreted position of the transition is underpinned by the bioturbation intensity and trace-fossil diversity trends, indicating periodic brackish-water conditions throughout SA in the McMurray Formation during low river flow conditions. Together, these data suggest that a broad FTT existed in the “A” Valley, with fluvial-dominated channels to the south that experienced seasonal brackish-water inundation during base flow, and channels experiencing increasing brackish-water influence lying further north towards a turbidity maximum zone. The FTT zone appears to have extended for several hundred kilometers from south to north.Based on the sedimentological and ichnological data, as well as estimations of lateral accretion rates, we refute the commonly applied Mississippi River depositional analogue for McMurray Formation channels. Rather, we show that while not a perfect fit, the tidally influenced Fraser River shows much greater agreement with the depositional character recorded in McMurray Formation IHS. Future work on the McMurray system should focus on characterizing tide-dominated deltaic and estuarine systems, such as the Ganges-Brahmaputra, and on forward-modeling the evolution of tide-dominated and tide-influenced river systems.  相似文献   

20.
An experiment was conducted to study megaripple morpho dynamics on a sandy intertidal shoal in a mesotidal mangrove creek (Gordon Creek, Townsville, Australia). Tidal current velocity and depth were recorded with S4 current meters over a period of 35 tides. The tidal megaripples were 0.06–0.2 m in height and 1–2 m in wavelength, and their movement was monitored by (1) electromagnetic bed-elevation probes (which automatically recorded bed level every 2 min at three positions along the survey transect) and (2) daily surveying for 8 days around spring tidals. The tidal currents in Gordon Creek are ebb-dominated, with maximum depth-mean current velocities for the flood and ebb tides of 0.62 and 0.98 m s?1 respectively. Significant bedload transport occurs only during spring tides, and only on the larger of the unequal semi-diurnal tides. Bedload transport is overwhelmingly in the ebb direction. Megaripple migration rates reach 5.6 m per tide in the ebb direction and up to 0.1 m min?1 within individual tides. Within-tide ‘bedform transport rates’are up to 0.29 kg m?1 s?1. The results suggest that for reconstruction of palaeoflows from deposits of preserved fine- to medium-grained sandy tidal megaripples, it is valid to use a depth-averaged velocity of 0.5–0.6 m s?1 as the migration threshold. Velocity thresholds associated with partial or complete reversal of megaripple asymmetry are invalid.  相似文献   

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