Autogenic response of fluvial deltas to steady sea-level fall: Implications from flume-tank experiments

Research Article| May 01, 2004 Autogenic response of fluvial deltas to steady sea-level fall: Implications from flume-tank experiments Tetsuji Muto; Tetsuji Muto 1Faculty of Environmental Studies, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyomachi, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Ron J. Steel Ron J. Steel 2Department of Geological Sciences, University of Texas, 1 University Station, C-1100, Austin, Texas 78712, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Tetsuji Muto 1Faculty of Environmental Studies, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyomachi, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan Ron J. Steel 2Department of Geological Sciences, University of Texas, 1 University Station, C-1100, Austin, Texas 78712, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 22 Oct 2003 Revision Received: 26 Jan 2004 Accepted: 02 Feb 2004 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2004) 32 (5): 401–404. https://doi.org/10.1130/G20269.1 Article history Received: 22 Oct 2003 Revision Received: 26 Jan 2004 Accepted: 02 Feb 2004 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Tetsuji Muto, Ron J. Steel; Autogenic response of fluvial deltas to steady sea-level fall: Implications from flume-tank experiments. Geology 2004;; 32 (5): 401–404. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G20269.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Flume-tank experiments on fluvial deltas, conducted with constant fall of relative sea level (rate A < 0), constant sediment discharge (qS), and constant water discharge (qW), reveal a built-in geomorphic process that inevitably causes valley incision ("autoincision") after the beginning of the sea-level fall and forms paired stream terraces on the abandoned alluvial slope. Despite steady sea-level fall, deltas aggrade without major incision until the autoincision threshold is attained, at which time the aggradational regime is replaced by a degradational one. Results of the experiments imply that multiple valley incision and terrace formation can occur as an autogenic response of the depositional system to steady forcing by constant sea-level fall. Changes of A, qS, and qW, or changes in river energy, are not required to account for these geomorphic events. The understanding of the autogenic response, when combined with the theory of shoreline autoretreat, provides an alternative view of the geomorphic development of fluviodeltaic systems during base-level fall. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.