Storm Liquefaction Deposits: A Possibility of Time Reversal in Sedimentary Strata of an Estuarial Coastal Area

In the sedimentary strata dating of estuarial coastal areas, it is often found that there is phenomenon of time-reversal in strata. The seabed sediments could be liquefied under storm waves. A laboratory wave flume experiment demonstrated that storm-induced liquefaction deposits are formed by the oscillations of liquefied sediments. In this paper, the particle size distribution and ²¹⁰Pb_ex specific activity of the sediment samples from the liquefaction disturbed zone and adjacent stable zone of the Yellow River Delta were tested. The stratigraphic divisions based on storm liquefaction deposit sequence can effectively explain the vertical changes in particle size and ²¹⁰Pb_ex specific activity. Due to the differentiation of particles during the storm induced liquefaction, coarse and fine particles regrouped, which could explain the phenomenon of time-reversal in dating data.