Loading and unloading of sedimentary basins: The effect of rheological hysteresis

A. C. Fowler, Xin She Yang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We present a model for the study of the effect of rheological hysteresis on compaction in sedimentary basins, when surface loading and unloading occurs. When compaction is slow (sedimentation rate is large and/or permeability is small), the hysteresis has little effect on the basal compaction layer, but in the more realistic case where compaction is fast (i.e., sedimentation is slow and/or permeability is large), surface unloading leads to downward propagation of a decompaction front, across which the vertical porosity gradient jumps, while subsequent surface reloading leads to downward propagation of a discontinuity in porosity, despite the fact that the porosity is governed by a diffusive equation of Richards type.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-1 - 1-9
JournalJournal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth
Volume107
Issue number4
Publication statusPublished - 10 Apr 2002
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Compaction
  • Hysteresis
  • Sedimentary basins

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