The emergence of windfield-source-basin dynamics

Abstract

The goal of this chapter is to give a brief introduction of the windfield-source-basin system. Over the years, sedimentology has seen a great improvement from initial facies analyses and interpretation of depositional environment, to process–product coupling controlled by exotic factors relating to climatic, tectonic, and sediment supply. Windfield, an important component of climate, is less well studied in terms of the influence on macro-depositional system. Wind, or wind-generated agents such as wave, however, may influence depositional results directly and pervasively, including both clastic and calciclastic depositional systems. From the perspective of this chapter, windfield should be considered as an end member of exotic factors and equals to tectonic activity and sediment supply. In this sense, the conception of windfield-source-basin system is proposed to summarize that depositional systems are controlled by these three end members.