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To and fro

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Principles of Physical Sedimentology

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Abstract

The preceding chapters may have conveyed the impression that we need refer only to unidirectional currents in order to give a physical account of sedimentary phenomena. We must emphasize that there is another important class of naturally occurring flows, characterized by rhythmical changes of speed combined with reversals of flow direction. These are the oscillatory currents associated with tides and with wind-generated surface waves. It is not immediately obvious that tides and wind waves belong in the same general class, but it turns out, as we shall see, that the tide can be analysed exactly as a type of wave. In addition to requiring some understanding of the origins of wind waves and tides, we shall in particular want to know what the currents due to them are like, what factors control these currents and the sediment transport they promote, and what bed-forms are adjusted to tidal and wave regimes. Some insight into these questions can be gained from simple experiments, from which it will become apparent that oscillatory flows can be much more complicated than unidirectional ones. But perhaps that is just part of their fascination.

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  1. Department of Geology, University of Reading, UK

    J. R. L. Allen

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© 1985 J.R.L. Allen

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Allen, J.R.L. (1985). To and fro. In: Principles of Physical Sedimentology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-9683-6_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-9683-6_13

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-9685-0

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