BARSIM: A 2D PROCESS RESPONSE MODEL FOR SIMULATING COASTAL EVOLUTION
AND STRATIGRAPHY ON GEOLOGICAL TIMESCALES
Drs. J.E.A. Storms (Ph.D. student)
Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences
Department of Applied Earth Sciences
Geology Section.
The object of this research is to develop, test and apply a numerical model that enables us to better
understand shallow coast and shelf deposits and reservoirs found in the subsurface. The model is based on
knowledge of current day coastal depositional systems. Algorithms describing long-term processes based
on metaphysics are used to extrapolate coastal changes over geologic timescales. Besides coastal
evolution a multiple grainsize stratigraphic record is modelled including all main petrophysic properties.
Introduction
BARSIM is a 2D stratigraphic simulation model, which is developed to better understand the relation
between coastal evolution and stratigraphy. BARSIM is based on "metaphysics" (highly parameterized
physics) which are used to describe the long term effects of small-scale processes instead of describing
these processes themselves. This approach enables us to simulate coastal erosion and deposition over long
time series (up to 100.000 y). BARSIM enables us to evaluate both large and small-scale effects on the
stratigraphic record due to variation in sea level, sediment supply and wave climate.
The project started on February 1, 1998 and will last until April 31, 2002 and is part of the DIOC 3
project.
Results in 2000
The work conducted in 2001 primarily consisted of writing down model theory, methods and results rather
than model development. Only minor changes have been made to the model. Below a short description of
each paper (thesis chapter) is outlined.
A paper is submitted about the model extension from fixed timesteps to dynamic event-based timesteps.
BARSIM is the first stratigraphic model, which includes event deposition. The paper describes the
mechanisms of event deposition, wave-height related changes in cross-shore depositional patterns and
stratigraphic responses.
Two joint papers are now being prepared in collaboration with Dr. Gary J. Hampson from Imperial
College, London. These papers describe both field data and model data on intra-parasequence
discontinuity surfaces. A first paper describes data from a detailed field study of progradational shoreface
sandstones in Utah, USA, which show distinct discontinuity surfaces that can be traced both paleo crossshore and paleo along-shore. This study, conducted by Hampson, is used as a truth case for the model
paper. The latter paper systematically evaluates different causes for the formation of discontinuity
surfaces. It appears that discontinuity surfaces result from minor changes in wave climate, sea level or
sediment supply as the shoreface progrades and reshapes to new conditions. Intra-parasequence
discontinuity surfaces may cause heterogeneous and compartmentalised reservoirs and are therefore of
interest to petroleum engineers.
A fourth paper is being prepared in collaboration with Dr. Donald Swift which resulted from a 3-month
stay last year at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, USA. The paper addresses the effects of sea-level
cycles on the shallow marine stratigraphic record to evaluate existing sequence stratigraphic concepts.
BARSIM is able to simulate all sequence stratigraphic bounding surfaces, including sequence boundaries,
transgressive and regressive ravinement surfaces and maximum flooding surfaces, which are recognised,
from the field. In addition, 'sharp-based' shorefaces and condensed sections are observed.
A fifth paper concerns data collected from a fieldwork along the Caspian Coast, Azerbaijan. We used
ground-penetrating radar to investigate the subsurface structure of modern progradational beach ridges. In
addition, we collected meteorological data and a high-resolution (nearly day-to-day) sea level curve using
data from the Topex-Poseidon satellite. This wide range of data types enabled us to unravel the effects of
individual events and sea level variability on the progradational beach ridges. Data reveals that storm
events have a significant erosional effect on coastal evolution leading to subsurface erosion surfaces. The
dynamic Caspian sea level could be related to topographic markers (highs and lows) of the beach ridges as
they prograded.
Research plan for 2001
The objective for 2002 is to finish the Ph.D. thesis.
Publications and Presentations in 2001
Storms, J.E.A., S.B. Kroonenberg; (2001) The impact of rapid Caspian sea-level fall in modern Azerbaijan
barriers revealed by ground-penetrating radar. Conference on Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) in
Sediments: Applications and Interpretation, August 20-21 2001, London.
Hampson, G.J., J.E.A. Storms; (2001) Geomorphological and stratigraphic variability in wave-dominated
shoreface-shelf parasequences. British sedimentological Research Group Meeting. Dec 2001.
Storms, J.E.A.; (2001) Simulating event deposition: effects of events on the shallow marine stratigraphic
record. IAMG extended abstract. September 2001, Cancun, Mexico.
Parsons,S., S. Fan, D.J.P. Swift, J. Carey, J., A.W. Niedoroda, C. Reed, J.E.A. Storms, J. Crockett, J.
Borgeld, N. Driscoll, M. Field, C. Nittrouer; (2001) Largescale facies architecture on the Eel shelf:
observations versus simulations. Chapman Conference on the Formation of Sedimentary Strata on
Continental Margins, Ponce, Puerto Rico, June 17-19, 2001.
Supervised M.Sc. thesis
None.
Completed courses
None.