CAS ES 142 Chapter Notes - Chapter 16: Strong River, List Of Seas, Continental Margin

• School: Boston University
• Department: Earth Sciences
• Course: CAS ES 142
• Professor: Peter Fitzgerald

Document Summary

Delta: a large and complex sediment accumulation (river or fluvial delta: how deltas develop. A presence of a delta: indication that a river is providing more sediment that can be removed/redistributed by coastal processes. Interaction of river processes of sedimentation with the open coastal marine processes. Trailing edges and passive margins = deltas easily form. Leading edges and active margins = deltas are difficult to form, absence of large drainage systems: exception to this generalization: the fraser river (canada), somewhat protected waters. Extensive drainage basins form in areas where there is little relief (no mountains, etc: example: mississippi river and amazon river. Deliver sediment only a stable, trailing edge continental margin with a broad shelf with a gentle slope. Ideal setting for a delta: marginal sea coasts: Marginal sea deltas also occur in alaska. Deltas cannot exist without sediment supply from rivers.