Retrogradation is the landward change in position of the front of ariver delta with time. This occurs when themass balance of sediment into the delta is such that thevolume of incomingsediment is less than the volume of the delta that is lost throughsubsidence,sea-level rise, and/orerosion. As a result, retrogradation is most common:

• during periods ofsea-level rise which results inmarine transgression. This can occur during major periods ofglobal warming and the melting of continentalice sheets.
• with extremely low sediment input.

• Progradation – Growth of a river delta into the sea over time
• River delta – Silt deposition landform at the mouth of a river
• Aggradation – Increase in land elevation due to the deposition of sediment
• Marine transgression – Geologic event in which sea level rises relative to the land
• Marine regression – Geologic event in which sea level falls relative to the land
• Sedimentology – Study of natural sediments and their formation processes
• Stratigraphy – Study of rock layers and their formation
• Sequence stratigraphy – Study and analysis of groups of sedimentary deposits
• Sediment transport – Movement of solid particles, typically by gravity and fluid entrainment

Schlumberger Oilfield Glossary

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