The Sedimentary Organisation and Behaviour of Drift-Aligned Gravel Barriers

by R. W. G. Carter, Univ of Ulster, Coleraine, United Kingdom,
J. D. Orford, Univ of Ulster, Coleraine, United Kingdom,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Coastal Sediments

Abstract:

Drift-aligned barriers formed of coarse clastic materials and described in terms of their organisational evolution at two levels, a) sorting and selection of clasts; b) development of plan form structures. The behaviour of clasts entering a gravel barrier population may be examined in terms of outcome probabilities, which change through time as the barrier evolves. As a barrier extends downdrift so the chances of material being trapped increase, leading to distal undersupply, and heralding reworking. These ideas are examined through changes in the hyperbolic sediment size distribution along a transport corridor. Eventual supply failure will lead to the remobilisation of barrier materials, creating sub-cell structures combining erosion and deposition. Ultimately a barrier may breach and fragment, engendering a major phase of reorganisation. Examples from Canada and England are presented.

Subject Headings: Gravels | Sediment | Sediment transport | Transportation corridors | Structural behavior | Particle size distribution | Material properties | Canada | England | United Kingdom | Europe

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