This study used the sediment samples collected in May (dry season) and September (wet season) 2010 in a river delta and tidal flat complex around Jhoushuei River mouth in Central Taiwan to examine seasonal sediment transport pathways and sources. Four different approaches were used in the analysis of grain-size distribution pattern. They include (1) the McLaren-Bowles method, and (2) the transport vector technique (Gao-Collins method), and (3) a combination of `filtering' and the empirical orthogonal (eigen) function (EOF) analysis technique, and (4) C/N elemental ratios of organic sediments. The results of surface grain size distributions of sediment range from clay to medium sand towards the sea, and very fine sand deposited in the river delta. On the upper tidal flat, mud content of the wet season is higher than dry season due to higher river output of organic sediment and low-energy sediment transport. In wet season, according to the fine-grained sediment from the Jhoushuei River is therefore mainly discharged to the offshore area and little remain around the tidal flat, the influence of river on the grain-size distribution is the least. The results based on McLaren-Bowles method indicate that there were two type sediment transport pathways, (1) the river carried sediment to the coast, then alone the northeast-southwest direction by the longshore current, and (2) during the flood tide, the riverine sediment move to northeast and east through the river delta and tidal creek to the upper tidal flat, respectively. The results based on Gao-Collins method indicate that there was possible seasonal variation of sediment transport pathways on the river delta front, where the significant transport was seaward in the wet season whereas the transport was the opposite in the dry season. On the tidal flat, the model results indicate that seaward transport seems to be controlled by ebb tidal current perhaps due to the sampling at low-tide.

Thesis (Ph. D.)-- State University of New York at Binghamton, Department of Geological Sciences and Environmental Studies, 2009.

Understanding thickness variation and facies transitions in the mudstone-rich part of the Upper Middle Jurassic (Callovian) Entrada Sandstone depositional system is critical for constraining the paleogeography and evaluating the economic potential of Utah's Entrada Sandstone. Facies of the Entrada Sandstone in south-central Utah are dominated by mudstone-rich intertidal facies that were widespread within the Jurassic seaway. Intertidal deposits interfinger basinward with subtidal ooid-bearing shoals and bars, and landward supratidal sabkha, and erg-margin eolian deposits. Three sections were measured to improve understanding of the lateral and vertical facies transitions. Variations in thickness indicate the rate of developing accommodation space was high along the southwestern shoreline and relatively low along the northeastern shoreline during Callovian time. Although accommodation space was highest in the west, sediment supply from the west kept pace with, and eventually outpaced subsidence. In the east, sediment supply was significant but at one time was outpaced by subsidence, creating a complete range of facies, from subtidal to supratidal deposits. Along this eastern shoreline, erg-margin coastal dunes associated with the larger erg to the east eventually prograded westward. The variation in subsidence, sediment supply, and sediment source makes sequence stratigraphic correlation difficult. Reservoir-quality sandstones are associated with muddy sections of the Entrada Sandstone within the San Rafael Swell. Porosity and permeability of the facies in this area indicate excellent reservoir potential in three of eight facies that were studied. Porosities of these potential reservoirs ranged from 11-22%, with permeabilities ranging from 44-430md. These high quality reservoir facies are surrounded by muddy, low reservoir-quality rocks, creating conditions amenable to the development of stratigraphic hydrocarbon traps. Based on further study and a modern analog at the north of the Gulf of California, Hicks and others' (2010) depositional model for the Entrada Sandstone of south-central Utah has been modified to include newly interpreted facies. This improved depositional model may have predictive power in exploring for stratigraphic and combination traps within the Entrada system of Utah and analogous depositional systems throughout the world.

<p> The interaction of biological and physical processes has resulted in distinct morphological and biological zonation across the Subarctic macrotidal tidal flats at the head of Frobisher Bay. The tidal flats have been divided into six morphological zones which are closely related to the three biological communities found there. </p> <p> Faunal species of the Upper Flat inhabit the beach and fines flat morphological zones where ice action during breakup and freezeup has the greatest influence. Species inhabiting these zones are hardy, and freshwater tolerant. Many are highly motile and recolonize the area after ice breakup. </p> <p> The Middle Flat extends from 5.0 m ALLT to 2.2 m ALLT. It is inhabited by motile polychaetes at its upper end (bouldery flat >4.5 m ALLT). with more sedentary species appearing towards its lower end (very bouldery flat). Below 2.2 m ALLT, on the Lower graded flat, sedentary infauna such as Cyrtodaria kurriana, Mya truncata and sabellid polychaetes, dominate the substrate. </p> <p> The three major processes acting on the tidal flats are, in order of importance, tidal, ice and wave action. Exposure indices, generated from tidal data, reveal 2 critical tidal heights at around 4 m and 7.5 m ALLT, in Frobisher Bay. The boundary between motile and less motile fauna, and bouldery and very bouldery morphological zones, occurs around 4.0 m ALLT. Of the flora and fauna only Fucus evanescens is found beyond the 7.5 m ALLT limit. </p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

The isotopic composition of the organic components of an animal's body, with respect to carbon and nitrogen, reflect the weighted average of the isotopic compositions of the animal's food sources, with a certain degree of enrichment in the heavier isotopes. Thus, by comparing the isotopic compositions of the animal and all the potential food sources, it is possible to ascertain the relative proportions of each availible food source in its diet, if the various food sources are sufficiently isotopically distinct. This approach is particularly usefull in estuarine communities where food-webs tend to be complex and where there are several sources of primary productivity. In this study it was used on two types of claw in an arctic and a temperate estuarine tidal flat in order to assess the importance of terrestrially fixed organic matter to each community. The results indicated that while marine and terrestrial organics were important food sources in the arctic tidal flat, the clams in the temperate site depended mostly on marine organics. / Thesis / Bachelor of Science (BSc)

Les espaces intertidaux correspondent à des estrans soumis à un régime de marée montrant un certain marnage. Il s’agit d’étendues basses constituées d’alluvions récentes, situées à proximité des mers à marée et envahies par les eaux lors des marées hautes. Les espaces intertidaux au nord du Vietnam sont sous l’influence de la mousson associé à un régime de marée diurne. Ils s’étendent sur environ 350 km le long de la côte. Le sud de la zone d’étude est marqué par le delta du fleuve Rouge et le fleuve Thai Binh qui apportent une grande quantité de sédiments, entraînant des estrans à dominante vaseuse ou vaso-silteuse. Le centre de la zone d’étude est caractérisé par des estrans noirs. L’exploitation du charbon dans la région de Cam Pha et de Ha Long expliquent un apport énorme de particules carbonées qui créent des estrans vaseux noirs tout à fait originaux. Cependant, les espaces intertidaux de ce secteur n’ont jusqu’à présent pas fait l’objet d’une étude détaillée. La présente thèse a pour objectif de répondre à quatre questions concernant ces espaces intertidaux :1. Comment la morphologie des estrans a-t-elle évolué depuis les 25 dernières années ?2. Quels sont les sédiments constituant ces estrans : granulométrie, teneur en carbonates, teneur en matière organique, etc. ?3. Quels sont les paramètres biophysiques de surface des estrans ?4. Quels sont les facteurs qui influencent les changements de morphologie des estrans et comment ces derniers peuvent-ils évoluer ?Afin de répondre à ces différentes questions, des images de télédétection tant optiques (Landsat, Spot, Aster, etc.) que radar (Sentinel-1A) ont été utilisées. Les analyses spatiales ont été réalisées à l’aide d’un système d’information géographique (SIG).Le présent travail est une thèse financée dans le cadre du programme liant l’Université de Sciences et Technologies de Hanoï et l’Université de Reims - Champagne-Ardenne, membre du consortium USTH. / Tidal flat is a special environment suffering tidal regime in which tidal flats are submerged during flood tide and exposing the air during ebb tide. Tidal flats in the north coast in Vietnam are constituted in diurnal tide condition with tide range varying from 0.3m to 3.5m. Along 350km coastline of the study area, the diversity of constituent conditions formed various tidal flats with different characteristic. Tidal flats in the southern part of the study area are fed by sediment from two large river systems, in the middle part forms the coal tidal flats, but the only sandy sediment along with tide domination constitute the large tidal flats in the north coast of the study area. This study apply remote sensing techniques and GIS tools to solve four scientific issues including: the evolution of tidal flats over periods from 1989 to 2014, the characteristics of sediments in tidal flats, the surface parameter of tidal flats, and the forcing factors which influence the future change of tidal flats. The results of the study shows that, tidal flats in the north coast in the study area are dramatically eroded but the tidal flats in the south coast are deposition by the concentration of fine sediments. In total 14 forcing factors, the coastal nature factor has highest forcing to the deposition of tidal flats. However, the factors of wind-wave effect and tidal flat width have negative influence to deposition. Consequently, the highest potential for future deposition of tidal flats are around the river mouths in the south coast but no potential for future deposition is in tidal flats in the north of the study area. This study is implemented in the framework of the cooperation between University of Science and Technology Ha Noi (USTH) and Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne (URCA).

Sedimentary characteristics of grainy non-skeletal tidal flats along windward platform margins have not been described in modern environments and may be misidentified or misclassified in the rock record. This study describes the sedimentology of such an environment to aid in accurate identification and characterization in the ancient. At Shroud Cay, a grain-dominated tidal flat is sheltered from the high energy of the shelf by a ring of cemented Pleistocene and partly indurated Holocene eolianite islands separated by several narrow tidal passes. Depositional texture, environment of deposition and geobody mapping, extensive sediment sampling, and vibracoring have shown that, though the cemented island provide a barrier from the high energy of the shelf, a high degree of tidal energy still occurs behind this barrier as indicated by the overwhelmingly grainy nature of all of the tidal flat sub-environments. Intertidal flats comprise the majority of the tidal flat surface. These flats are characterized by patchy Scytonema mats overlying bioturbated peloid-ooid grainstones to packstones with cemented lithoclasts. Three main tidal channels dissect the tidal flat and allow diurnal flow, one of those tidal channels does not exit the tidal flat but dead-ends behind a cemented Holocene beach dune ridge along the eastern side of Shroud Cay. Peloid-ooid-skeletal grainstone tidal bars and peloid-ooid packstones fill much of the channels. Most of the channels are bordered by low-relief grain-rich packstone levees often capped by red mangroves and algal mats. The interior-most supratidal parts of the flat, often in the lee of the windward Holocene ridge, are covered by a thick (5-~25cm) Scytonema microbial mat underlain by grain-rich ooid-peloid packstones. Ancient grain-dominated carbonate tidal flats and eolianite deposits like Shroud Cay?s are the reservoir rocks in some of today?s largest hydrocarbon fields. We develop a model for the evolution of the grain-dominated tidal flat, document and compare differences between the grain-rich tidal flat and surrounding environments of deposition, and develop a set of criteria for recognition. These criteria can be used to more accurately characterize reservoirs such as the Jurassic Smackover fields, to avoid mis-classification of similar settings, and more effectively produce those reservoirs.