Sedimentary characteristics of delta front from a hydrodynamic perspective
MAO Xiaoping1, CHEN Xiurong2, LI Zhen1, LI Shuxian1, ZHU Qixuan1
1 School of Energy and Resources,China University of Geosciences(Beijing),Beijing 100083,China; 2 Beijing Huajiezhihe Technology Co.,Ltd,Beijing 100083,China
Abstract：The in-depth analysis of the development process of the delta front is of great significance for the judgment of the sedimentary environment,and it is necessary to deeply explore the formation characteristics and mechanism of the delta front from the perspective of hydrodynamics. In this study,the vertical distribution of the flow velocity in river water bodies and the development characteristics of delta front sedimentary bodies are investigated,from multiple perspectives of hydrodynamics,flume experiments,and underwater geomorphological observations. The results show that the phenomenon of river flow velocity,exhibiting a monotonic decrease with depth,has not been given sufficient attention. The terrain undulation of the middle and lower reaches of the riverbed increases with the flow direction,resulting in the underwater sand waves perpendicular to the flow direction,while the terrain undulation of the river section perpendicular to the flow direction becomes more and more gentle. During the process of rivers entering the sea,there will be a mainstream channel without branching channels underwater. Additionally,the originally undulating riverbed will gradually be filled up,changing from a sharp V-shaped or W-shaped to a U-shaped. It can be concluded that most of the front edge of the delta are sheet-like or fan-shaped,rather than a strip of erosion surface along the flow direction. Microfacies such as underwater distributary channels and bays do not develop in the delta front subfacies,which cannot be found in the modern delta front subfacies and are not supported by flume experiments. Furthermore,a water depth velocity interaction model for river channel and delta sedimentation is proposed.
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