N/A / Thesis / Master of Science (MS)

The quantification of sediment budget in a well-defined ancient source-to-sink (S2S) system is vital to understand Earth history and basin evolution. Fulcrum analysis is an effective approach to estimate sediment volumes of depositional systems, given total mass balance throughout source areas to basins. The key to this approach is to quantify sediment in a closed S2S system with time controls. We analyzed Allomember E of the Cretaceous Dunvegan Alloformation in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin to test this sediment estimation approach. The results indicate that the sediment transported by the trunk-river generically matches the sediment estimated to be deposited in the basin. The upper-range estimate may suggest mud dispersal southward by geostrophic currents. Deciphering the relationships between traditional lithostratigraphy and sequence stratigraphy is the key to correctly understanding time-stratigraphic relationships. High-resolution sequence stratigraphic analysis of the Cretaceous Gallup system documents the high-frequency depositional cyclicity using detailed facies analysis in extensively exposed outcrops in northwestern New Mexico, US. We identified thirteen stratigraphic sequences, consisting of twenty-six parasequence and sixty-one parasequences. Shoreline trajectories are evaluated based on the geometry of the parasequences. The results show the previously identified sandstone tongues are equivalent to high-frequency sequence sets. The depositional duration estimates of respective sequence stratigraphic units, associated with the estimated changes in relative sea level, imply that Milankovitch-cycle-dominated glacio-eustasy may be the predominant control on the high-frequency sequence stratigraphy. Shoreline processes are more dynamic and complicated with mixed-energy dominance. The re-evaluation of the depositional environments of the Gallup system and the reconstructions of the paleogeography with temporal controls help to examine the depositional evolution in space and time. Paleogeographic reconstructions at parasequence scales allow for the documentation of the process-based lateral facies variations and the depositional evolution. The distinction between different wave-dominated facies associations is proposed based on this process-based facies analysis. / Dissertation / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

During the summers of 1973 anrd 1974 processes and related responses operating on a small High Arctic sandur (basin area 91 km²) were studied. Several aspects related to the sandur were investigated, including the hydrologic regime of surface runoff, channel hydraulic conditions, sediment transport, and the morphology of the channels and sandur surface. Summer climatic conditions strongly affected surface runoff due to their influence on snowmelt, qlacial melt, and summer precipitation, There was a noticeable diurnal rhythm in streamflow in response to snowmelt and glacial melt. The influences of ice blockcage effects on streamflow were also observable. A shallow active layer resulted in a rapid response of surface runoff to snowmelt, glacial melt, and rainfall sources. These aspects of the hydrologic regime strongly affected the hydraulic conditions of the streams. The main hydraulic adjustment was produced by changes in velocity which led to rapid changes in flow resistance and resulted in large variations in the rates of sediment transport. Estimates of the stream load in the 1974 summer confirmed that the bulk of the sediment was carried as bedload. Channel bar forms which reflected hydraulic conditions changed considerably over a summer period. On a long term basis, the form of the channel longitudinal profile indicated an adjustment to downstream hydraulic conditions while the surface morphology and sediment distribution over the sandur revealerl the two-dimensional variations in channel processes. / Thesis / Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Thesis. 1976. M.S.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences. / Microfiche copy available in Archives and Science. / Bibliography: leaves 55-58. / M.S.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Earth and Planetary Science, 1981. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND LINDGREN. / Bibliography: leaves 176-181. / by William Charles Corea. / Ph.D.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Earth and Planetary Science, 1981. / Microfiche copy available in Archives and Science. Film reel in Science Library. / Bibliography: leaves 79-80. / by Peter John Vrolijk. / M.S.

Flocculation is not only an important part of sediment dynamics within coastal marine waters, but is also a factor of sediment transport within small freshwater streams in Blacksburg, Virginia. The goal of this project was to develop a relationship between floc sizes and stream characteristics (temperature, salinity, chlorophyll-a, organic content, TSS, pH) and to compare how that relationship varies seasonally and spatially across two streams in the same watershed with a similar drainage area but different land uses within these areas. Microscopic images of flocs and water samples were taken within two local streams every two to four weeks throughout the span of one year. The images were analyzed to obtain the floc sizes and the water samples were tested in a lab for various stream properties. The compiled data from the entire year were analyzed to determine if there was a seasonal relationship between floc sizes and the various properties of the water. The process was also repeated at multiple locations along the entire length of both of the streams once in the summer and once in the winter to see if there was a spatial relationship within a single stream. Our study found that significant rainfall events tend to have the greatest effect on floc size in the small headwater streams. However, many of the individual variables alone do not correlate strongly with floc size and a combination of variables may be the best way to analyze the floc size. / Master of Science / Flocculation is the process of single particles coming together to form larger aggregated particles called "flocs". This project focuses on flocculation of sediment within local streams and how the sizes of these flocs may vary throughout the year. The rate of flocculation and the size of these flocs can have a large effect on the movement of sediment within freshwater streams. Images of flocs and water properties such as water temperature, salinity, and pH, were analyzed every two to four weeks throughout the span of a year to determine if there was a relationship between floc size and any of the measured water properties. While a relationship between rainfall and floc size was noticed, it is apparent that multiple variables should be factored into the analysis to get the most accurate results.

The present study examines the role of turbulence on the incipient motion of sediment. For this purpose, well-controlled experiments are performed at the laboratory in a tilting flume. In these tests glass beads of the same size and density are used as the testing material to isolate the role of turbulence. State of the art equipment are used during the course of this study. Specifically, a 3-D Laser Doppler Velocimetry system is employed to measure the instantaneous velocity components at different points near the vicinity of a ball while the ball motion is monitored with a video camera. An image analysis program is developed here to analyze the motion of the particles within a test area. To examine the importance of the different stress components in the entrainment of sediment, five tests of different packing configuration are performed. Specifically three different roughness regimes are examined namely, the isolated, the wake interference, and the skimming flow. The results reveal that the instantaneous normal stress in the streamwise direction is the most dominant component of the instantaneous stress tensor. The backbone of this study is the development of a methodology to link the effects of turbulence with the commencement of sediment motion. It is considered that the metastable bursting cycle (i.e. sweeps, ejections, inward and outward interactions) is responsible for the sediment entrainment. And that the sediment entrainment, if any, occurs within a bursting period. The main concept behind the determination of the critical conditions is that the probability of the entrainment of sediment (effect) is equal to the probability of occurrence of these highly energetic turbulent events that have magnitude greater than the critical (cause). The probability of sediment entrainment is computed by means of the image analysis tool. The balance of moments is obtained here to determine the minimum moment that is required for the commencement of sediment motion. The balance of moments yields the deduction of a new variable that is used to describe the probability of occurrence of the different turbulent events. This variable is the summation of the instantaneous normal stresses in the streamwise and vertical direction. It is shown here that a two-parameter gamma density function describes quite well the statistical behavior of this variable. The results that are obtained from the existing model suggest that the present methodology can adequately describe the commencement of sediment motion. It is shown here that the traditionally used shear stress term uw may not be the appropriate measure for the determination of the critical conditions. / Ph. D.

The overall goal of this research was to increase, relative to targeting recommendations, the cost-effectiveness of pollution reduction measures within a watershed. The goal was met through development of an optimization procedure for best management practice (BMP) placement at the watershed level. The procedure combines an optimization component, written in the C++ language, with spatially variable nonpoint source (NPS) prediction and economic analysis components, written in the ArcView geographic information system scripting language. The procedure is modular in design, allowing modifications or enhancements to the components while maintaining the overall theory. The optimization component uses a genetic algorithm to optimize a lexicographic multi-objective function of pollution reduction and cost increase. The procedure first maximizes pollution reduction to meet a specified goal, or maximum allowable load, and then minimizes cost increase. For the NPS component, a sediment delivery technique was developed and combined with the Universal Soil Loss Equation to predict average annual sediment yield at the watershed outlet. Although this evaluation considered only erosion, the NPS pollutant fitness score allows for evaluation of multiple pollutants, based on prioritization of each pollutant. The economic component considers farm-level public and private costs, accounting for crop productivity levels by soil and for enterprise budgets by field. The economic fitness score assigns higher fitness scores to scenarios in which costs decrease or are distributed more evenly across farms. Additionally, the economic score considers the amounts of cropland, hay, and pasture needed to meet feed and manure/poultry litter spreading requirements. Application to two watersheds demonstrated that the procedure optimized BMP placement, locating scenarios more cost-effective than a targeting strategy solution. The optimization procedure identified solutions with lower costs than the targeting strategy solution for the same level of pollution reduction. The benefit to cost ratio, including use of the procedure and implementation of resulting solutions, was demonstrated to be greater for the optimization procedure than for the targeting strategy. The optimization procedure identifies multiple near optimal solutions. Additionally, the procedure creates and evaluates scenarios in a repeated fashion without requiring human interaction. Thus, more scenarios can be evaluated than are feasible to evaluate manually. / Ph. D.

This project included the following goals: 1. To review and assess the geomorphology and lake morphometry of Mountain Lake, Giles County, Virginia with regard to its age and origin. This included production of an updated bathymetric map of Mountain Lake using Sonar imaging of the lake bottom. 2. To evaluate present trophic conditions in the lake waters. This analysis included the first-reported nutrient conditions for input streams to the lake and rainwater. 3. To collect representative "modern" bottom sediment samples and to analyze these sediment samples for sedimentological characteristics, diatoms , and terrestrial pollen. This analysis focussed on present environmental conditions in the lake, and the determination of modern diatom thanatocommunities. 4. To collect complete bottom sediment cores from the lake. Coring was done using a diver-assisted manual coring device designed specifically for this project. 5. To analyze Mountain Lake sediment cores for sedimentology, age determination, and temporal differences in sediment characteristics, diatoms and pollen. This analysis focussed on interpretation and documentation of environmental changes through the lake's history. Primary discharge from the lake presently occurs through a leaky subterranean pathway associated with the deepest, crevice-like portion of the lake. This discharge results in the crevice drain not filling shut with sediment despite its location within the lowest portion of the lake. The lake structure, crevice, and subterranean drain are associated with a regional lineation feature represented in part by the path of Salt Pond Drain and a small input stream ("I-4") to the lake. Initial damming was caused by downdrop of overlying rock. The damming is not complete, and the rate of discharge through time is controlled, in part, by regional tectonic events and by a balance of hydrologic conditions and sedimentation factors. The present lake is generally oligotrophic in nature, with phosphorus representing the major limiting nutrient. Rainfall presently represents the largest source of nutrient to the lake. Present diatom flora in Mountain Lake includes 66 individual taxa, representing 25 genera. Of these, 12 forms or species have not been reported in Virginia inland waters prior to this project. The diatoms reflect the oligotrophic and circumneutral nature of the lake. At least seven diatom thanatocommunities can be defined in the lake, based on taxa, delineated by depth and nutrient conditions. The ratio metric of planktonic to littoral diatoms can be used to estimate past water depths in the lake from bottom sediment. An orange clay layer at 5 cm from the modern sediment/water interface represents human intervention in lake history, namely the hotel and road building in the early 20th Century. The age of the lake is greater than 6000 years. Specific 14C from sediment produced dates of 1860 +100, 4220 +50 and 6160 +70 bp. Within this interval, at least 6 extended periods of low or empty lake level occurred (at approximately 100, 400, 900, 1200, 1800, and 4200 yrs bp). Several of these low intervals are likely to correspond with cool dry conditions co-incident with solar minima events. When the lake has been low or empty, it has tended to develop Sphagnum bog conditions with the low lake surrounded by open or wooded meadows. Terrestrial flora surrounding the lake appears to have remained relatively similar through 6100 years, although red spruce originally accompanied hemlock. / Ph. D.