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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

AAPG Bulletin

Abstract


Volume: 46 (1962)

Issue: 10. (October)

First Page: 1969

Last Page: 1969

Title: Falling-Water-Level Ripple Marks: ABSTRACT

Author(s): William F. Tanner

Article Type: Meeting abstract

Abstract:

Ripple marks produced in shallow water, especially when the water level is falling, are more varied, more complex, more easily interpreted, and more valuable in paleogeographic studies than ripple marks developed under other conditions. Shallow-water and falling-water-level ripple marks are conveniently studied on sand-floored tidal flats as well as in Previous HitwaveNext Hit tanks. Tidal flats have the advantage that a variety of Previous HitwaveNext Hit systems, moving from different directions, can be studied, both singly and in combination.

Flat-topped ripple marks, in many different patterns, are formed when the water level drops to, or below, the ripple-mark crests. When the rate of water level fall varies systematically, terraced flat-topped ripple marks are produced. Two parallel ripple-mark systems, having smaller ridges centered in the troughs between larger ridges, developed as a result of the adjustment of Previous HitwaveNext Hit orbit diameters during the fall.

Helical cell ridges ("rib-and-furrow"), windrow ridges and other long down-current ridges are produced primarily by direct current flow, or by a vector combination of waves and currents, in shallow water. Composite ripple marks arise when the motions of two in-phase Previous HitwaveNext Hit systems are added vectorially. Out-of-phase combination yields a wavy map pattern. Additional ripple-mark Previous HittypesNext Hit found on the tidal flat or in very shallow water have sharply pointed troughs and gently rounded crests, or are flat-bottomed despite an abundance of sand. These Previous HittypesNext Hit may be caused by a combination of Previous HitwaveTop action and mass flow of shallow water.

The catalog given here does not exhaust the list. New varieties are being found with some regularity. Many of these varieties have been observed in the lithified rock column, and can be interpreted with relatively great confidence.

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