Morphodynamic modeling of channel fill and avulsion timescales during early Holocene transgression using Trinity River, TX incised valley stratigraphy

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dc.contributor.advisorNittrouer, Jeffrey A.en_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberAnderson, John Ben_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberDroxler, Andre Wen_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberLorenzo-Trueba, Jorgeen_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberPerillo, Mauricio Men_US
dc.creatorMoran, Kaitlin Moran Elizabethen_US
dc.date.accessioned2016-02-05T14:53:43Zen_US
dc.date.available2016-02-05T14:53:43Zen_US
dc.date.created2015-05en_US
dc.date.issued2015-04-24en_US
dc.date.submittedMay 2015en_US
dc.date.updated2016-02-05T14:53:43Zen_US
dc.description.abstractThe Trinity River and the sediments that infill its incised valley system are well-constrained in terms of time and space properties of the sediment deposits and resulting stratigraphy. The Trinity River is an excellent natural laboratory to test fluvial morphodynamic concepts that could be used to examine the processes of incised valley infill. We develop a numerical model that links sediment transport processes and the production of stratigraphy to evaluate the effects of Holocene transgression on the development of Trinity stratigraphy. We simulate the mechanics of channel fill and avulsions for the Trinity River, by coupling fluid flow, sediment transport and channel response, constrained by modern and early Holocene conditions. Our results show how non-uniform flow produces loci of sediment deposition, which backstep within the channel as base-level rises, and coincide with the avulsion locations. There is an upstream retreat as the rate of base-level rise increases (transgression). Additionally, we show how including a floodplain parameter within the model framework influences the calculated time for avulsion by changing the amount of sediment deposited within the channel. Our model is applied over century to millennial timescales, and is utilized to evaluate basin scale patterns of known stratigraphic variability. Because the model is well-constrained, our results have application for predicting stratigraphy for other fluvial-deltaic systems undergoing transgression. This is especially important for predicting the valley infill of systems that lack the robust constraint exhibited by the Trinity incised valley system.en_US
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen_US
dc.identifier.citationMoran, Kaitlin Moran Elizabeth. "Morphodynamic modeling of channel fill and avulsion timescales during early Holocene transgression using Trinity River, TX incised valley stratigraphy." (2015) Master’s Thesis, Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/88370">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/88370</a>.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/88370en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.en_US
dc.subjectSediment transporten_US
dc.subjectmodelingen_US
dc.subjectmodel calibrationen_US
dc.subjectTrinity Riveren_US
dc.subjectmorphodynamicsen_US
dc.titleMorphodynamic modeling of channel fill and avulsion timescales during early Holocene transgression using Trinity River, TX incised valley stratigraphyen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.type.materialTexten_US
thesis.degree.departmentEarth Scienceen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineNatural Sciencesen_US
thesis.degree.grantorRice Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelMastersen_US
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen_US
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