Sedimentary processes and patterns in deposits corresponding to freshwater lake-facies of hyperpycnal flow – An experimental study based on flume depositional simulations

Abstract

The article establishes a depositional model for lacustrine hyperpycnal flow by examining dynamics, transport factors, and laminae formation. The results show that several typical experimental phenomena such as fluid front mixing, double flow division, underwater leap, water skiing, and “new head” can be observed in the flume experiment. Based on the experimental observation of the flow process, three modes of transport of hyperpycnal flow in freshwater lake basins are summarized: bottom-bed loading, suspended loading, and uplift loading. Further, the change of fluid properties in hyperpycnal flow is summarized in three stages: a high-concentration stage, a low-concentration stage, and an uplifting stage. There are two main factors affecting the long-range transport of hyperpycnal flow: (1) the concentration difference between the head deposits and the ambient water body and (2) shear force of turbulence in the upper part of hyperpycnal flow. The simulation experiments of hyperpycnites laminae show that the laminae change from continuous to intermittent with the increase of the transportation distance. It is clear that the mode of transport of the hyperpycnal flow has a controlling effect on the degree of development of the laminae. Eventually, a depositional model of lake-facies hyperpycnal flow under experimental conditions was constructed.

Keywords

• sedimentation simulation experiment
• hyperpycnal flow
• hyperpycnites
• depositional processes
• depositional patterns