Response of sediments to sea-level changes in differing subsiding storm-dominated marginal and epeiric basins.

Abstract

During nonglaciated periods marginal sea floor topography (that is, the shelf profile) as well as sediment distribution in persistent, storm-dominated basins tend to approximate equilibrium conditions in relation to certain (changing) sea-level stands. Complicated relationships can be quantitatively demonstrated with a number of simplistic models using assumptions which are considered characteristic of ancient sea level changes and the subsidence of marginal shelf seas or epicontinental basins. Some typical sections from the epicontinental jurassic sea of Southern Germany are discussed and compared with the results of the models. -from Author