Autogenic Dynamics and Self-Organization in Sedimentary Systems
Autogenic dynamics and self-organization in sedimentary systems are increasingly viewed as significant and important processes that drive erosion, sediment transport, and sediment accumulation across the Earth’s surface. These internal dynamics can dramatically modulate the formation of the stratigraphic record, form biologically constructed depositional packages, affect ecological patterning in time and space, and impact aspects of geochemical sedimentation and diagenesis. The notion that autogenic processes are local phenomena of short duration and distance is now recognized as false. Understanding autogenic dynamics in sedimentary systems is thus essential for deciphering the morphodynamics of moderns sedimentary systems, accurately reconstructing Earth history, and predicting the spatial and temporal distribution of sedimentary and paleobiologic features in the stratigraphic record. The thirteen papers in this volume present exciting new ideas and research related to autogenic dynamics and self-organization in sedimentology, stratigraphy, ecology, paleobiology, sedimentary geochemistry, and diagenesis. Five papers summarize the current state of thinking about autogenic processes and products in fluvial-deltaic, eolian, and carbonate depositional systems, and in paleobiologic and geochemical contexts. A second group of papers provide perspectives derived from numerical modeling and laboratory experiments. The final section consists of field studies that explore autogenic processes and autogenically modulated stratigraphy in five case studies covering modern and ancient fluvial, deltaic, and shelf settings. This SP should stimulate further research as to how self-organization might promote a better understanding of the sedimentary record.
Spatial Self-Organization in Carbonate Depositional Environments
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Published:January 01, 2016
Abstract
Spatial self-organization, the process where coherent spatial patterns emerge through internal interactions, is widely observed in modern natural systems. Compelling examples range from ripple and dune formation in aquatic and terrestrial systems to formation of patterned coral reefs and vegetation in arid regions. Despite this wide range of contemporary cases, the concept of self-organization and its potential effects on geological patterns have not yet been widely discussed by the geological community, especially in carbonate depositional systems. We present four case studies from modern bivalve beds, coral reefs, microbial carbonates, and tidal channels, and one from the rock record considering carbonate cyclicity, where spatial self-organization could explain regularity in preserved strata. Only two of these five case studies, bivalve beds and tidal channel systems, are accompanied by a firm understanding of the mechanisms that generate emergent patterning. Three types of ecosystem spatial self-organization—scale-dependent feedback creating regular patterns, criticality behavior causing scale-free patterns, and oscillating consumer resource interactions causing consumer waves—are well documented. The first two of those appear to hold most relevance for carbonate depositional environments. Considerable work remains to understand the processes and products of spatial self-organization in carbonate deposystems.
- Alacran Reef
- Atlantic Ocean
- biogenic structures
- biostromes
- carbonate sediments
- cyclic processes
- cyclothems
- depositional environment
- dunes
- ecosystems
- feedback
- Gulf of Mexico
- modern
- North Atlantic
- patch reefs
- patterns
- planar bedding structures
- reefs
- sediment transport
- sedimentary structures
- sediments
- self-organization
- shell beds
- shore features
- stromatolites
- succession
- tidal channels
- tidal flats
- transport
- peritidal environment
- autogenic processes