2.3.2. Dynamics of sedimentary systems and deformational patterns

The largest water mass outside the ocean resides not in ice caps nor in lakes and rivers but in the pore space of the Earth’s crust. By far the largest proportion of this pore space is contained in sedimentary rocks. Owing to their high porosity, sedimentary rocks are the only significant reservoirs for oil, gas and water and the most significant conduits for subsurface pollution. Therefore, predicting the architecture and properties of sedimentary rocks in the subsurface is one of the great challenges of Solid-Earth science. Progress will critically depend on successful integration of remote imaging of the subsurface and forward modelling from first principles of sedimentation, erosion and chemical reactions. Prediction includes both prediction in space (“ahead of the drill”) and forecasting system behaviour in time (based on 4-D-monitoring). With its unique blend of geoscientists and engineers, TOPO-EUROPE is particularly well equipped to tackle this problem.

Quantitative analysis of the geometries and facies patterns resulting from erosion and sediment deposition provides a key step in linking the dynamics of hinterland uplift and basin subsidence and the associated mass flux. The prospect of increasingly higher resolution in space and time will provide a much better understanding of the factors controlling topographic evolution on continents and along their margins.

During the last few years it has become increasingly evident that recent deformation has strongly affected the structure and fill of sedimentary basins. Similarly, the long-lasting memory of the lithosphere appears to play a much more important role in basin reactivation than hitherto assumed. Therefore, a better understanding of the 3-D fine structure of the linkage between basin formation and basin deformation is essential for linking lithospheric forcing and upper mantle dynamics to the dynamics of crustal uplift and erosion, and the dynamics of sedimentary systems. In TOPO-EUROPE, structural analysis of the architecture of sedimentary basins, including paleo-stress assessment, will provide important constraints on the transient nature of intra-plate stress fields.

Reconstruction of the history of sedimentary basins is a prerequisite for identifying transient processes controlling basin (de)formation. TOPO-EUROPE pursues full 3-D reconstructions, including the use of sophisticated 3-D visualization and geometric construction techniques for faulted basin architectures. 3-D back-stripping, including the effects of flexural isostasy and faulting, permits a thorough assessment of sedimentation and faulting rates and changing facies and geometries through time. The established architecture of the preserved sedimentary record serves as key input for the identification and quantification of transient processes.