Sediment Dispersal and Sequence Development Along a Tectonically Active Margin: Late Quaternary Evolution of the Ganges-Brahmaputra River Delta
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W&M ScholarWorks Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects 1999 Sediment dispersal and sequence development along a tectonically active margin: Late Quaternary evolution of the Ganges-Brahmaputra River delta Steven Lee Goodbred Jr. College of William & Mary - Arts & Sciences Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wm.edu/etd Part of the Geology Commons, and the Geophysics and Seismology Commons Recommended Citation Goodbred, Steven Lee Jr., "Sediment dispersal and sequence development along a tectonically active margin: Late Quaternary evolution of the Ganges-Brahmaputra River delta" (1999). Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects. Paper 1539623939. https://dx.doi.org/doi:10.21220/s2-rf60-pr52 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects at W&M ScholarWorks. 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SEDIMENT DISPERSAL AND SEQUENCE DEVELOPMENT ALONG A TECTONICALLY ACTIVE MARGIN: LATE QUATERNARY EVOLUTION OF THE GANGES-BRAHMAPUTRA RTVER DELTA A Dissertation Presented to The Faculty of the School of Marine Science The College of William and Mary in Virginia In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Steven L. Goodbred, Jr. 1999 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Numbers 9921486 UMI Microform 9921486 Copyright 1999, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. APPROVAL SHEET This dissertation is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Steven L. TJoodbred, Jl Approved, March 1999 S i a7 Kttdhl, Ph.D. littee Chairman/Advisor <folm D. Milliman, Ph.D. Catherine J. Chisholm-Brause, Ph.D. Mark R. Patterson, Ph.D. Sarah E. Kruse, Ph.D. University of South Honda Tampa, Florida ii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.................................................................................................v LIST OF TABLES..............................................................................................................vi LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................... vii ABSTRACT....................................................................................................................... ix INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 2 References .......................................................................................................................5 CHAPTER 1: Modem Floodplain Accretion ...................................................................... 6 Abstract ......................................................................................................................... 6 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 7 Geologic Setting............................................................................................................9 Methods ...................................................................................................................... 13 Results ........................................................................................................................ 15 Discussion ....................................................................................................................25 Conclusions ................................................................................................................. 41 References ....................................................................................................................43 CHAPTER 2: Holocene and Modem Sediment Budgets .................................................. 48 Abstract........................................................................................................................ 48 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 49 Geologic Setting...........................................................................................................50 Methods ........................................................................................................................ 52 Fluvial Sediment Budget .............................................................................................. 54 iii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. iv Discussion .................................................................................................................... 59 References .................................................................................................................... 61 CHAPTER 3: Late Quaternary Delta Evolution ................................................................. 66 Abstract........................................................................................................................ 66 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 67 Geologic Setting.......................................................................................................... 69 Methods ........................................................................................................................ 71 Stratigraphy and Facies Descriptions ........................................................................... 73 Discussion .................................................................................................................... 84 Implications for Delta Models ...................................................................................... 92 Summary and Conclusions ..........................................................................................101 References ....................................................................................................................103 CHAPTER 4: Late Holocene Delta Facies and Development ...........................................112 Abstract........................................................................................................................112 Introduction .................................................................................................................113 Background .................................................................................................................114 Methods ........................................................................................................................116 Results ........................................................................................................................