Deltaic Morphology and Sedimentology, with Special Reference to the Indus River Delta.

Abstract

The patterns of sedimentation and morphologic development of a delta result primarily from the interaction of fluvial and marine processes. Historically, the Indus River delta has formed in and arid climate under conditions of high river discharge (400 x 10 to the 6th metric tons of sediment/year), moderate tide range (2.6m), extremely high wave energy (14 x 10 to the 7th ergs/sec) and strong monsoon winds from the southwest in summer and from the northeast in the winter. The resulting sandy, lobate delta, lacking in luxuriant vegetation and dissected by numerous tial channels, has prograded seaward during the last 5000 years at an average rate of perhaps 30m/year. Morphology of the Indus Delta lies midway between that of a fluvially dominated delta (elongate, protruding distributaries) and a high energy wave dominated delta (beach beachridge, and downdrift deposits).

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1985
Accession Number
ADA168198

Entities

People

  • James M. Coleman
  • John T. Wells

Organizations

  • Louisiana State University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Arabian Sea
  • Classification
  • Energy
  • High Energy
  • Materials
  • Mississippi
  • Mississippi River
  • Pakistan
  • Phyllosilicates
  • Ridges
  • Sedimentation
  • Sedimentology
  • Silt
  • Submarine Canyons
  • Transport Ships
  • Vegetation
  • Wave Power

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Coastal and Marine Engineering/Sediment Transport/Hydraulic Engineering
  • Riverine Ecology