Details of Award
NERC Reference : NER/A/S/2003/00538
Generation, preserv & predic of sandy braided alluvium: integrated ground penetrating radar, digital photogrammetry & probabilistic modelling approach
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor G Sambrook Smith, University of Birmingham, Sch of Geography, Earth & Env Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor P Ashworth, University of Brighton, Sch of Environment and Technology
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor JL Best, University of Leeds, School of Earth and Environment
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor SN Lane, University of Lausanne (UNIL), Faculty of Geosciences and Environment
- Grant held at:
- University of Birmingham, Sch of Geography, Earth & Env Sciences
- Science Area:
- Freshwater
- Earth
- Overall Classification:
- Earth
- ENRIs:
- Natural Resource Management
- Science Topics:
- Earth Surface Processes
- Survey & Monitoring
- Sediment/Sedimentary Processes
- Abstract:
- Modern and ancient sediments deposited by sand-dominated rivers with multiple channels ('braided' rivers) contain many of the world's reserves of oil, gas, coal, gold and diamonds. Exploitation of such economically important reserves requires a detailed understanding of how river channels transport their sediment and how this sand is subsequently deposited and preserved in the subsurface. This proposal will use a novel approach, by integrating some of the most recent technologies of surface and subsurface imaging, to investigate how such braided alluvium is generated, measure its three-dimensional form in the subsurface and use this to generate models of river sedimentation. Channel change will be imaged and quantified using repeat aerial photography while the subsurface stratigraphy will be imaged using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), to about 6m depth, across exposed islands in summer and over the entire floodplain (including channels) in the frozen winter. This proposal builds on an earlier NERC-funded pilot study on the South Saskatchewan River, Canada, which has been a 'benchmark' field site for river scientists since the 1970s because it provides superb visibility of sand transport and the growth of sandy islands. Our work will have major applications in understanding both modern and ancient braided rivers, and will evolve a methodology that will be of direct use in other natural environments, such as estuaries and near-shore. The research will involve end-users from the oil industry who manage hydrocarbon reservoirs within ancient sandy river sediments, and will have end-user applications in the groundwater and minerals sectors.
- NERC Reference:
- NER/A/S/2003/00538
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Standard Grants Pre FEC
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Standard Grant
This grant award has a total value of £241,242
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - T&S | Total - Staff | Total - Other Costs | Total - Indirect Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| £36,993 | £100,587 | £57,390 | £46,271 |
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