Pore space in sediments on continental blocks and sea level change
The problem of explaining geologically rapid sea level changes on an earth without major ice caps is vexing because it has been difficult to understand where the water which left the ocean was stored. One possible storage reservoir which has not been previously investigated is the pore space in sediment on the continental blocks. Cratonic sediments (165x10/sup 6/km/sup 3/) with an average porosity of about 20%, have a pore volume of 33x10/sup 6/km/sup 3/; geosynclinal sediments have a pore volume of 53x10/sup 6/km/sup 3/; coastal plain and continental shelf sediments have a pore volume of 30x10/sup 6/km/sup 3/. The total potential for water storage is equal to an impressive 320 meters of sea level change. However most of this pore space is below sea level and unavailable because it is permanently filled with water. The total pore space available within the upper 500m of sediment is 12.5x10/sup 6/km/sup 3/; within the upper 1000m of sediment, 24.8x10/sup 6/km/sup 3/. An approximation for the total pore space available above sea level space which could be filled with or emptied of ground water lies between these figures. Assuming that 18.6x10V2andkm/sup 3/ of pore space could respond to differing infiltration volumes of water as a result of climate changes, a maximum fluctuation of sea level of 52 meters could be accounted for. Interestingly, the time constants associated with filling or emptying this space are in the same order of magnitude as Milankovitch cycles.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Colorado, Boulder (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6597765
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8510489-
- Journal Information:
- Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States), Vol. 17; Conference: 98. annual meeting of the Geological Society of America, Orlando, FL, USA, 28 Oct 1985
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
POROSITY
VOLUMETRIC ANALYSIS
SEA LEVEL
VARIATIONS
SEDIMENTS
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
HYDROLOGY
INTERSTITIAL WATER
SEAS
VOLUME
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LEVELS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
SURFACE WATERS
WATER
580100* - Geology & Hydrology- (-1989)