Datasets in Project Space Tulane_Sediment_Dynamics_Stratigraphy_TSDS

Rice Pile Experiments conducted at Tulane University in 2022

A suite of physical rice pile experiments conducted to understand generic statistics of sediment transport and how variability in transport rates influences the propagation of environmental signals.

TDWB-22

Experiment to explore shelf-edge deltas and coupled downslope submarine fan systems.

TDB-19-1

Experiment to explore the impact of flooding on delta surface processes. Two flooding states were imposed: high-intensity flooding, and low-intensity flooding. The system cycled between these states over the experimental runtime. Each flood regime was held constant for a set period to allow surface processes to equilibrate between each transition. Each transition in flooding took place over a planned duration. The water level rise in the basin and the integrated water and sediment flux were held constant over the experimental runtime.

TDB-17-1

Description: TDB-17-1: Fan-delta experiment performed in Tulane University Delta Basin. Experiment evolved under constant forcings of water (0.17 l/s), sediment (0.00017 l/s), and sea-level rise rate 0.1 (mm/hr). Experiment run time was 560 hrs of base-level rise. Experiment used a strongly cohesive sediment that had a wide grain size distribution with a median diameter of 65 microns. Experiment performed to explore autogenic sediment transport and stratigraphy with topography monitored every 1 hour of run time.

TDWB-19-2-Surface-Processes

TDWB-19-2: Delta experiment performed in Tulane University Deep Water Basin. Experiment evolved under constant forcings of water (0.17 L/s), mean sediment (1.41 kg/hr), and long term sea-level rise rate (0.25 mm/hr). Experiment run time was 560 hrs. Experiment used a strongly cohesive sediment that had a wide grain size distribution with a median diameter of 65 microns. The experiment evolved with marsh proxy sediment deposition. The marsh proxy was EPK, a type of kaolinite clay, and was deposited on the delta top every two-hours at an average rate of 200 g/2-hr. Experiment performed to explore interaction of delta and marsh sedimentation and resulting stratigraphy with dry topography monitored every 2 hours of run time.

TDWB_17_1

Experiment to explore shelf-edge deltas and coupled downslope submarine fan systems that experience changes in relative sea level. Stage 1 included construction of system with constant relative sea level, stage 2 captured system evolving under short relative sea level cycles with small magnitudes, stage 3 captured system evolving under a long relative sea level cycles with a large magnitude. Size and durations of relative sea level cycles were scaled to autogenic scales. Input flow was delivered with a flood cycle and input flow contained dissolved salt to promote plunging of turbidity currents at shelf-edge.

TDB_16_3

TDB-16-3: Fan-delta experiment performed in Tulane University Delta Basin. Experiment evolved under constant forcings of water (0.17 l/s), mean sediment (1.41 kg/hr), and long term sea-level rise rate (0.25 mm/hr). Experiment run time was 875 hr. Experiment used a strongly cohesive sediment that had a wide grain size distribution with a median diameter of 65 microns. Sediment supply rate remained constant until run hour 140. During run hour 140-385 sediment supply followed a sine wave pattern with period of 24.5 hrs and peak-to-peak amplitude of 0.87 kg/h. During run hour 385-875, sediment supply followed a sine wave pattern with period of 98 hr and peak-to-peak amplitude of 0.43 kg/hr. Experiment performed to explore interaction of autogenic sediment transport with sediment supply cycles and resulting stratigraphy with topography monitored every 1 hour of run time.

TDB_16_2

TDB-16-2: Fan-delta experiment performed in Tulane University Delta Basin. Experiment evolved under constant forcings of water discharge (0.17 l/s), mean sediment supply (1.41 kg/hr), and long term sea-level rise rate (0.25 mm/hr). Experiment run time was 630 hr. Experiment used a strongly cohesive sediment that had a wide grain size distribution with a median diameter of 65 microns. Sediment supply during the final 490 hrs followed a sine wave pattern with period of 98 hrs and peak-to-peak amplitude of 0.22 kg/h. Experiment performed to explore interaction of autogenic sediment transport with sediment supply cycles and resulting stratigraphy with topography monitored every 1 hour of run time.

TDB_16_1

TDB-16-1: Fan-delta experiment performed in Tulane University Delta Basin. Experiment evolved under constant forcings of water (0.17 l/s), mean sediment (1.41 kg/hr), and long term sea-level rise rate (0.25 mm/hr). Experiment run time was 630 hr. Experiment used a strongly cohesive sediment that had a wide grain size distribution with a median diameter of 65 microns. Sediment supply during the final 490 hrs followed a sine wave pattern with period of 24.5 hrs and peak-to-peak amplitude of 0.22 kg/h. Experiment performed to explore interaction of autogenic sediment transport with sediment supply cycles and resulting stratigraphy with topography monitored every 1 hour of run time.

TDB_15_1