An analysis of the sedimentary fill of a foreland basin can provide information on the relative effect of tectonics, base-level fluctuations and climate during basin development. This study analyzes fluvial strata from the upper Cedar Mountain and Naturita formations of the mid-Cretaceous foreland basin of Utah (USA) to determine the effects of spatial location within the foreland basin on fluvial planform and architecture. The study results document consistent planform and architecture across the distal foredeep and forebulge depozones during flooding of the Western Interior Seaway suggesting that fluvial planform and architecture did not change as a function of position within foreland basin depozone or as a result of base-level rise. Outcrop data, virtual outcrop models and satellite imagery were used to perform facies and architectural analysis and to collect dimensional and geometric data. Fluvial channel deposits consist of coarse-grained, laterally accreting bars deposited within narrow, low to moderate sinuosity channels, that were vertically stacked and encased in floodplain fines regardless of geographic location or stratigraphic position and may represent distal deposits of a distributive fluvial system. Bar elements increased in thickness over time indicating increasing channel depths and enhanced discharge. Palaeohydraulic calculations indicate an increase in discharge from between 315 and 1023 to between 1896 and 5270 m³/s, likely due to enhanced precipitation and/or drainage capture in the catchment and basin. Calculated drainage areas for the system increased from 10⁴ to 10⁵ km² scale over time. The uppermost fluvial deposits were in close proximity (≤60 km) to contemporaneous shoreface systems as the Western Interior Seaway expanded; yet backwater effects are not observed, suggesting that rising base level had no significant effect on fluvial planform or architecture. These results show that fluvial planform and architecture remained constant despite rising base-level, changing climate, increased discharge and position in different foreland basin depozones.

中文翻译：

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美国犹他州中白垩纪前陆盆地河流系统的演化（雪松山上部和 Naturita 地层）

对前陆盆地沉积充填的分析可以提供有关盆地发育过程中构造、地表波动和气候的相对影响的信息。本研究分析了美国犹他州中白垩纪前陆盆地雪松山上部和 Naturita 地层的河流地层，以确定前陆盆地内的空间位置对河流平面和建筑的影响。研究结果记录了在西部内陆海道泛滥期间远端前渊和前隆沉积带的一致平面和结构，这表明河流平面和结构不会因前陆盆地沉积带内的位置或基线上升而发生变化。露头数据，虚拟露头模型和卫星图像用于执行相和建筑分析以及收集尺寸和几何数据。河流河道沉积物由沉积在狭窄、低到中等弯曲度河道内的粗粒、横向增生的条带组成，无论地理位置或地层位置如何，它们都垂直堆积并包裹在漫滩细粒中，并且可能代表分布性河流系统的远端沉积物。条形元素的厚度随着时间的推移而增加，表明通道深度增加和放电增强。古水力学计算表明，流量从 315 到 1023 年之间增加到 1896 年到 5270 米之间 低至中等曲折的河道，无论地理位置或地层位置如何，都垂直堆积并包裹在漫滩细粒中，并且可能代表分布河流系统的远端沉积物。条形元素的厚度随着时间的推移而增加，表明通道深度增加和放电增强。古水力学计算表明，流量从 315 到 1023 年之间增加到 1896 年到 5270 米之间 低至中等曲折的河道，无论地理位置或地层位置如何，都垂直堆积并包裹在漫滩细粒中，并且可能代表分布河流系统的远端沉积物。条形元素的厚度随着时间的推移而增加，表明通道深度增加和放电增强。古水力学计算表明，流量从 315 到 1023 年之间增加到 1896 年到 5270 米之间³ / s，可能是由于集水区和流域中降水和/或排水收集增加。随着时间的推移，系统的计算排水面积从 10 ⁴增加到 10 ⁵  km ²规模。随着西部内陆海道的扩张，最上层的河流沉积物与同期的岸面系统非常接近（≤60 公里）；但是没有观察到回水效应，这表明上升的基础水位对河流平面或建筑没有显着影响。这些结果表明，尽管不同前陆盆地沉积带的基准面上升、气候变化、流量和位置增加，但河流平面和建筑保持不变。