When Does Faulting-Induced Subsidence Drive Distributary Network Reorganization? Academic Article

abstract

• AbstractDeltas exhibit spatially and temporally variable subsidence, including vertical displacement due to movement along fault planes. Faultinginduced subsidence perturbs deltasurface gradients, potentially causing distributary networks to shift sediment dispersal within the landscape. Sediment dispersal restricted to part of the landscape could hinder billiondollar investments aiming to restore delta land, making faultinginduced subsidence a potentially significant, yet unconstrained hazard to these projects. In this study, we modeled a range of displacement events in disparate deltaic environments, and observe that a channelized connection with the displaced area determines whether a distributary network reorganizes. When this connection exists, the magnitude of distributary network reorganization is predicted by a ratio relating dimensions of faultinginduced subsidence and channel geometry. We use this ratio to extend results to realworld deltas and assess hazards to deltaicland building projects.

authors

• Moodie, Andrew

published proceedings

• GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS

altmetric score

• 3.35

author list (cited authors)

• Moodie, A. J., & Passalacqua, P.

citation count

• 8

complete list of authors

• Moodie, Andrew J||Passalacqua, Paola

publication date

• November 2021

publisher

• American Geophysical Union (AGU)  Publisher

published in

• Geophysical Research Letters  Journal

keywords

• Deltas
• Distributary Networks
• Land Building
• Sediment Diversions
• Subsidence

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1029/2021GL095053

volume

• 48

issue

• 22

URL

• http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2021gl095053