Definition
The backbarrier complex lies between the landward side of a barrier island and the mainland. It encompasses a suite of subaerial, intertidal, and subaqueous depositional environments. The preservation potential for some segments of the backbarrier complex, specifically inlet and flood-tidal delta deposits, is high. Such sediments comprise a large portion of ancient clastic coastal deposits.
Introduction
The backbarrier is a sedimentary environment dominated by fine sand and mud, although significant amounts of coarser sediment may occur locally (Howard and Frey, 1985). Large-scale planar and trough cross-bedding is common, along with graded beds and sand-mud interbedding. Bioturbation is common, along with burrows. The components of a backbarrier complex (Figure 1) may include coastal lagoons, which are shallow basins lying between the mainland coast and the landward side of a barrier island; flood-tidal deltas, which are formed through deposition on the lagoon floor by...
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Donoghue, J.F. (2016). Backbarrier. In: Kennish, M.J. (eds) Encyclopedia of Estuaries. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8801-4_276
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