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Key research themes
1. How do sediment accumulation rates vary over different time scales and depositional environments, and what does this imply about stratigraphic completeness?
This research area investigates the variability and unsteadiness of sediment accumulation rates across varying temporal scales and depositional settings. Understanding these patterns is fundamental for estimating the completeness of stratigraphic records, which is crucial for interpreting Earth history and paleoenvironmental reconstructions. The variability reflects inherent discontinuities in sedimentation caused by episodic geomorphic, climatic, and tectonic processes, influencing the fidelity of stratigraphy as a geological archive.
Key finding: By compiling nearly 25,000 sediment accumulation rates, this study demonstrates an inverse relationship between measured sedimentation rate and the time span over which it is measured, spanning 11 orders of magnitude. It... Read more
Key finding: The review within this Special Issue highlights recent progress in understanding sedimentary processes in marine environments including hybrid event beds and sediment transport dynamics. It consolidates modern... Read more
Key finding: This work comprehensively details sediment behavior, transport, and depositional processes emphasizing sediment characteristics such as particle size, cohesive and non-cohesive behavior. It underscores the complex interplay... Read more
2. What are the methodological advances in sediment grain-size distribution analysis and its applications in sedimentological characterization?
Precise characterization of sediment grain-size distributions and related textural parameters is critical for interpreting sediment transport dynamics, depositional environments, and sediment provenance. Recent computational and imaging-based methodologies enable high-resolution, non-destructive, and statistically rigorous analysis of sediment samples, facilitating better sediment classification, environmental reconstructions, and resource management.
Key finding: Introduced the SANDY© Matlab computational tool that accurately calculates sediment grain-size distributions and essential textural parameters (mean, median D50, sorting, skewness, kurtosis) from sieve samples. It integrates... Read more
Key finding: Developed the G2Sd R package to provide rapid and comprehensive statistical analysis of unconsolidated sediments from sieve data, computing key granulometric parameters using arithmetic, geometric moments, and logarithmic... Read more
Key finding: Demonstrated the use of non-destructive, high-resolution X-ray computed tomography (CT and µCT) and X-ray fluorescence scanning techniques to characterize sediment facies and structures in a 12,000-year varved lake sediment... Read more
3. How do sediment physical and rheological properties influence navigability and sediment management in ports and coastal environments?
Understanding the sediment physical characteristics and rheological behavior, especially in fine-grained cohesive sediments and fluid muds, is essential for managing sedimentation problems in harbors and navigation channels. These properties influence dredging efficiency, vessel maneuverability, and the definition of nautical depths. Research advances in sediment characterization and rheometry allow the development of management strategies to reduce dredging costs and mitigate sediment-related navigation hazards.
Key finding: This study identifies critical sediment physical and rheological parameters—such as water content, sediment concentration, clay fraction, and yield stress—that define fluid mud layers impacting navigable depths in Bushehr... Read more
Key finding: By integrating grain-size analysis, rare earth elements, stable and radioactive isotopes, this study successfully distinguishes sediment sources infilling dredged shipping channels, such as fluvial, marine, and longshore... Read more