ESS11
Prof.
Jin-Yi Yu
Sediments
qSediments are the major climate archive on Earth for over 99% of
geological time (and on all time
scales), primarily as continuous
sequences deposited by
water.
qRainfall and the runoff it produces erode rocks exposed on the continents and transport the
eroded sediments
in streams and rivers.
qThe sediments are deposited in quieter waters where layer upon layer of sediments can be laid
down in
undisturbed succession.
qFor intervals before the last
170 million
years, all surviving sedimentary
records come from continents.
(from Earth’s Climate: Past and Future)