Retrogradation

Retrogradation is the landward change in position of the front of a river delta with time. This occurs when the mass balance of sediment into the delta is such that the volume of incoming sediment is less than the volume of the delta that is lost through subsidence, sea-level rise, and/or erosion. As a result, retrogradation is most common:

during periods of sea-level rise which results in marine transgression. This can occur during major periods of global warming and the melting of continental ice sheets.
with extremely low sediment input.

See also[]

Progradation – Growth of a river delta into the sea over time
River delta – Silt deposition landform at the mouth of a river
Aggradation – Increase in land elevation due of the deposition of sediment
Marine transgression – Geologic event in which sea level rises relative to the land
Marine regression – Geological process of areas of submerged seafloor being exposed above the sea level.
Sedimentology – The study of natural sediments and of the processes by which they are formed
Stratigraphy – Study of rock layers and their formation
Sequence stratigraphy – Study and analysis of groups of sedimentary deposits
Sediment transport – Movement of solid particles, typically by gravity and fluid entrainment

References[]

Schlumberger Oilfield Glossary

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