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Development of algebra algorithms for automated generation of grain‐size distribution maps
Author(s) -
Sarretta Alessandro,
Masiol Mauro,
Molinaroli Emanuela
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
earth surface processes and landforms
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.294
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1096-9837
pISSN - 0197-9337
DOI - 10.1002/esp.1464
Subject(s) - sedimentology , silt , sedimentary depositional environment , geology , grain size , sediment , sedimentary rock , texture (cosmology) , sediment transport , algorithm , mineralogy , geomorphology , computer science , artificial intelligence , geochemistry , structural basin , image (mathematics)
The grain‐size distribution of sediments is a fundamental characteristic in understanding the earth's surface environments and an essential tool in classifying sedimentary environments. Grain‐size data provide important information on the energy and dynamics of depositional environments and aid our understanding of sediment transport. Ternary diagrams (TDs) are useful and conventional tools to classify sediments on the basis of relative grain size (i.e. gravel, sand, mud or sand, silt, clay). The development of spatial modelling in a geographical information system (GIS) can assist in treating, computing and displaying sedimentological data, such as grain‐sizes. In this work, four map algebra (MA) algorithms are written in a GIS environment to automatically produce maps depicting the spatial distribution of sediment texture classes based on the most frequently used grain‐size TDs: the Shepard classification and Flemming classification for sand–silt–clay components, and the Folk et al. classification and Blair and McPherson classification for sand‐gravel‐mud components. The proposed method allows rapid assessments by producing map distributions of the parameters most widely used in sedimentology. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.