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Regional Geomorphological Characteristics and Sedimentary Processes
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Regional Geomorphological Characteristics and Sedimentary Processes

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Water Erosion and Sediment Transport".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2025 | Viewed by 3007

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Aqsa Anees

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming 650504, China
Interests: unconventional and conventional reservoir characterization; formation evaluation; machine learning; fault and fracture modeling; sedimentary geology; CCS
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce a Special Issue entitled "Regional Geomorphological Characteristics and Sedimentary Processes". This issue aims to advance the understanding of how geomorphological features and sedimentary processes shape and interact with aquatic environments. We welcome contributions that explore the dynamics of sediment transport, deposition, and erosion in various geological settings and their implications for water and hydrocarbon resources.

Background and Aims: This Special Issue seeks to highlight the latest research on regional geomorphological features and sedimentary processes, emphasizing contributions from earth scientists, environmental scientists, and petroleum geologists. We aim to provide a platform for interdisciplinary studies that integrate field observations, laboratory experiments, remote sensing technologies, machine learning applications, and modeling approaches. By examining these processes in diverse environmental and geological contexts, we hope to uncover new insights into their roles in shaping landscapes, influencing hydrological systems, and informing petroleum exploration and extraction strategies.

Key Highlights:

  • Exploration of sediment transport mechanisms and their impact on riverine and coastal systems;
  • Analysis of the interplay between geomorphological features and hydrodynamic conditions;
  • Investigation of sedimentary records as indicators of past environmental and geological changes;
  • Assessment of human activities on sedimentary processes and geomorphology;
  • Implications of geomorphological changes for water resource management and ecosystem health;
  • Utilization of remote sensing technologies to monitor and analyze geomorphological and sedimentary processes;
  • Applications of machine learning techniques to model and predict sedimentary dynamics and reservoir properties;
  • Paleoenvironmental reconstructions and their implications for hydrocarbon exploration;
  • Tectonic controls on sedimentary basins and petroleum accumulation.

Proposed Relevant Topics:

  • Fluvial geomorphology and sediment dynamics;
  • Coastal sediment transport and deposition;
  • Sedimentary processes in lakes, reservoirs, and petroleum basins;
  • Erosion and sedimentation patterns in mountainous and arid regions;
  • Impact of climate change on sedimentary processes;
  • Human-induced changes in geomorphological and sedimentary systems;
  • Advanced modeling techniques for sediment transport, deposition, and reservoir simulation;
  • Geomorphological mapping and its applications in environmental and petroleum management;
  • Remote sensing applications in geomorphology and sedimentary process analysis;
  • Machine learning applications in predicting and analyzing sedimentary processes and reservoir characteristics;
  • Reconstructing ancient depositional environments for improved hydrocarbon exploration strategies.

We invite researchers to submit original research articles, reviews, and case studies that address these and related topics. Your contributions will play a vital role in enhancing our understanding of the intricate relationships between geomorphology, sedimentary processes, aquatic environments, and petroleum geology, ultimately benefiting both earth and environmental scientists.

Dr. Aqsa Anees
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Water is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • geomorphology and sediment transport
  • deposition and erosion
  • geomorphological features
  • reservoir sedimenta-tion
  • climate change impacts
  • fluvial dynamics
  • hydrodynamic conditions
  • paleoenvironmental reconstructions
  • GIS applications
  • sedimentary records
  • geological modeling
  • environmental management

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 4814 KiB  
Article
Geomorphological Characteristics and Evolutionary Process of a Typical Isolated Carbonate Platform Slope in the Xisha Sea: A Case Study of the Northwestern Dongdao Platform
by Xudong Guo, Dongyu Lu, Xuelin Li, Xiaochen Fang, Fei Tian, Changfa Xia, Lei Huang, Mei Chen, Luyi Wang and Zhongyu Sun
Water 2025, 17(9), 1259; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17091259 - 23 Apr 2025
Viewed by 267
Abstract
The northwestern slope of the Dongdao Platform in the Xisha Sea exhibits a complex geomorphological structure. Utilizing high-resolution multibeam bathymetric data and 2D seismic profiles, this study systematically reconstructs the slope morphology and its evolutionary processes. The study area displays a distinct threefold [...] Read more.
The northwestern slope of the Dongdao Platform in the Xisha Sea exhibits a complex geomorphological structure. Utilizing high-resolution multibeam bathymetric data and 2D seismic profiles, this study systematically reconstructs the slope morphology and its evolutionary processes. The study area displays a distinct threefold zonation: the upper slope (160–700 m water depth) has a steep gradient of 15°–25°, characterized by deeply incised V-shaped channels and slump deposits, primarily shaped by gravity-driven erosion; the middle slope (700–1200 m water depth) features a gentler gradient of 10°–15°, where channels stabilize, adopting U-shaped cross-sections with the development of lateral accretion deposits; the lower slope (1200–1500 m water depth) exhibits a milder gradient of 5°–10°, dominated by a mixture of fine-grained carbonate sediments and hemipelagic mud–marine sediments originating partly from the open ocean and partly from the nearby continental margin. The slope extends from 160 m to 1500 m water depth, hosting the C1–C4 channel system. Seismic facies analysis reveals mass-transport deposits, channel-fill facies, and facies modified by bottom currents—currents near the seafloor that redistribute sediments laterally—highlighting the interplay between fluid activity and gravity-driven processes. The slope evolution follows a four-stage model: (1) the pockmark formation stage, where overpressured gas migrates vertically through chimneys, inducing localized sediment instability and forming discrete pockmarks; (2) the initial channel development stage, during which gravity flows exploit the pockmark chains as preferential erosional pathways, establishing nascent incised channels; (3) the channel expansion and maturation stage, marked by intensified erosion from high-density debris flows, resulting in a stepped longitudinal profile, while bottom-current reworking enhances lateral sediment differentiation; (4) the stable transport stage, wherein the channels fully integrate with the Sansha Canyon, forming a well-connected “platform-to-canyon” sediment transport system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regional Geomorphological Characteristics and Sedimentary Processes)
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41 pages, 36866 KiB  
Article
Depositional Architecture of Aggrading Delta Front Distributary Channels and Corresponding Depositional Evolution Process in Ordos Basin: Implications for Deltaic Reservoir Prediction
by Yuhang Huang, Xinghe Yu and Chao Fu
Water 2025, 17(4), 528; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17040528 - 12 Feb 2025
Viewed by 848
Abstract
Distributary channels at the delta front of lacustrine basins play a crucial role in transporting terrigenous sediments and redistributing depositional facies along the basin margin. These channels are also significant reservoirs for oil and gas. This study investigates the Triassic Yanchang Formation in [...] Read more.
Distributary channels at the delta front of lacustrine basins play a crucial role in transporting terrigenous sediments and redistributing depositional facies along the basin margin. These channels are also significant reservoirs for oil and gas. This study investigates the Triassic Yanchang Formation in the Southeastern Ordos Basin (China), emphasizing the sedimentary characteristics, hydrodynamic processes, and evolutionary patterns of delta front distributary channels. Special focus is given to the response of sedimentary filling to paleotopographic changes along the basin margin to enhance reservoir prediction. Through field profiling and quantification of channel morphological parameters, two distinct topographic types were identified: transitions from gentle to steep slopes and from steep to gentle slopes. The findings reveal that the morphology, evolution, and distribution patterns of distributary channels were primarily influenced by the paleotopographic gradient, with sediment grain size playing a supplementary role. Detailed analysis highlights the topographic control on sediment transport mechanisms: in gentle terrain, friction-driven processes dominate (rolling/suspension), whereas in steep terrain, inertial forces prevail (rolling/saltation). Channel architecture correlates strongly with paleotopography: gentle to steep transitions form isolated, vertically stacked sand bodies with thick mouth bars, while steep to gentle transitions produce sheet-like sands with lateral migration features. This study establishes a predictive framework linking slope thresholds to reservoir morphology, offering prioritized targets for hydrocarbon exploration. The methodology is applicable to the margins of lacustrine basins in intracratonic settings, reducing subsurface uncertainty by integrating paleotopographic reconstructions with channel aspect ratios and migration rates. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regional Geomorphological Characteristics and Sedimentary Processes)
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19 pages, 10970 KiB  
Article
Variations in Sedimentation Rate and Corresponding Adjustments of Longitudinal Gradient in the Cascade Reservoirs of the Lower Jinsha River
by Suiji Wang
Water 2025, 17(2), 262; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17020262 - 18 Jan 2025
Viewed by 616
Abstract
The Xiangjiaba and Xiluodu reservoirs, as important components of the large cascade reservoirs in the lower Jinsha River, and the interactive changes in sediment trapping amounts, the differences in sedimentation dynamics, and the potential mutual influence mechanisms among them are scientific issues worthy [...] Read more.
The Xiangjiaba and Xiluodu reservoirs, as important components of the large cascade reservoirs in the lower Jinsha River, and the interactive changes in sediment trapping amounts, the differences in sedimentation dynamics, and the potential mutual influence mechanisms among them are scientific issues worthy of attention. Based on the multiple observed data of thalweg elevation before and after the completion of the dam construction, this study calculated the average sedimentation rates of all 20 km segments of the above-mentioned reservoirs in different periods. Meanwhile, the local mean gradients between adjacent segments and the regional mean gradients from the segments to the dam in the corresponding periods were calculated. The results show that the maximum and average sedimentation rates of the Xiangjiaba Reservoir, which was built earliest and is located downstream, were as high as 19.62 m yr−1 and 8.88 m yr−1, respectively, in the first half year after the dam closure. After the completion of the Xiluodu Reservoir, an adjacent cascade reservoir upstream, the average sedimentation rate of the Xiangjiaba Reservoir in the following seven years dropped to 0.67 m yr−1. The maximum and average sedimentation rates of the Xiluodu Reservoir were 9.07 m yr−1 and 4.15 m yr−1, respectively, within one year after the dam closure, and its average sedimentation rate in the following six years was 2.51 m yr−1. The spatial variations of sedimentation rates in these two reservoirs follow different changing patterns. There is an obvious correlation between the change in mean gradient and the change in sedimentation rate. The sequence of dam construction, the relative positions of the reservoirs, the differences in sediment trapping amounts, and operation modes are the key factors controlling the changes in sedimentation rate and gradient in the reservoir area. This study reveals the interactive changes in sedimentation rates among cascade reservoirs and the response mechanism of river channel morphology, and has a guiding role for the formulation of effective measures for the sustainable utilization of cascade reservoirs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regional Geomorphological Characteristics and Sedimentary Processes)
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15 pages, 9267 KiB  
Article
Sporopollen-Algae Assemblage and Its Paleoenvironmental Significance for the Kongdian Formation of Eocene Strata in Bohai Bay Basin, China
by Yongzhao Yu, Wenyan Wei, Yaqin Yao, Kunqi Qiu, Jilei Yang, He Ji, Xinrui Pei and Zhenqing Zhang
Water 2025, 17(1), 92; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17010092 - 1 Jan 2025
Viewed by 855
Abstract
Paleoenvironmental insights gleaned from geological history are profoundly important for the discovery and exploitation of mineral resources. In China’s Bohai Bay Basin, the Kongdian Formation represents the principal oil-bearing stratum from the Eocene Epoch. However, a comprehensive understanding of its paleoenvironmental evolution and [...] Read more.
Paleoenvironmental insights gleaned from geological history are profoundly important for the discovery and exploitation of mineral resources. In China’s Bohai Bay Basin, the Kongdian Formation represents the principal oil-bearing stratum from the Eocene Epoch. However, a comprehensive understanding of its paleoenvironmental evolution and stratigraphic division has been hindered by the paucity of paleontological data. To address this gap, three sedimentary cores were meticulously collected from the southern extremity of the Liaoxi Uplift within the Bohai Bay. These cores underwent a thorough sporopollen-algae analysis to elucidate their stratigraphic division and to reconstruct the associated paleoenvironmental conditions. The analysis yielded the identification of three distinct sporopollen-algae assemblages of the regional Kongdian Formation: (1) The assemblage of Divisisporites longilaesuratus-Betulaepollenites-Tiliaepollenites microreticulatus is indicative of the lower submember of the Kongdian Formation Ek2; (2) The assemblage of Polypodiaceaesporites-Alnipollenites indicates the upper submember of the Ek2; (3) The assemblage of Pterisisporites undulatus-Taxodiaceaepollenites-Ephedripites corresponds to the Kongdian Formation Ek1. These assemblages reflect a significant evolutionary trajectory of the regional plant communities throughout the Kongdian Formation. Initially, there were evergreen arbor-shrub mixed forests, which transitioned to green algae-herb-evergreen broadleaved biota and finally evolved into evergreen conifer-shrub mixed forests. This botanical evolution mirrors shifts in the paleoclimate, which experienced a progression from conditions of high temperature and high humidity through a phase of warm, semi-humid environments to eventually high temperature and semi-arid conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regional Geomorphological Characteristics and Sedimentary Processes)
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