regularities but should be also considered in the lithodynamic research. Investigation of such sediment transport consequences as its differentiation according to the
mineral composition or formation of definite sediment textures and structures
should not be regarded as an object of lithodynamics, though their understanding
requires the knowledge of the regularities of the contact zone dynamics. Thus, the
major object of lithodynamics is to study the process of transport itself rather than
the analysis of migrating sediments or resulting sediment forms. Morphodynamic
phenomena and differentiation of sediments according to the hydraulic coarseness
are the consequences immediately governed by the regularities of the sediment
transport; hence they are related to the secondary lithologic, geomorphologic, and
other consequences of the lithodynamic processes.
The regularities of the ocean contact zone dynamics can be used to solve many
applied and scientific problems. They include all kinds of engineering problems
connected with the dynamics of sediment and topography of shallow depths,
protection and reinforcement of coasts, construction of hydrotechnical stations in
the near-shore and shelf zones, provision of navigation security, prospecting and
exploitation of deposits on the ocean shelf and coastal zones. Understanding the
surface sediment accumulation and transport forming the sequence of the ocean
floor deposits is most essential at greater depths. It is difficult to have a clear picture
of the depositional history and development of the ocean floor without full understanding of the dynamics of these sediments.
Finally, the construction of an overall picture of the sediment transport from the
continents to the ocean floor and the creation of a reliable model of all links of
global lithodynamic processes are the major tasks of the ocean lithodynamics as a
whole.
The whole variety of lithodynamic phenomena and processes in the ocean can be
divided into two methodically distinct groups and consequently into two types of
models of the systems under study. These models can be conventionally called
physico-mathematical and physico-geographical. Investigations of the first group
are included into the contents of the dynamics of the oceanic contact zone, while the
research complex of the second group represents the subject of the physical
geography, which can be called regional lithodynamics of the ocean.
The concept of sediment transport in the ocean as a phenomenon representing
the subject of our investigation, should be considered as a starting point for both
types of research. The sediment transport is a general concept: it includes overall,
unidirectional sediment transport averaged over any given period of time. In
accordance with the models of the lithodynamic system, the sediment transport
may be also divided into the local and regional. We understand the local transport as
the simplest implementation of the processes of unidirectional sediment transport
with the shortest averaging time interval (seconds and minutes). The local transport
models usually imply a possibility of raising a two-dimensional problem, while
transport sections to be modeled are rather short (up to several tens of meters) in
accordance with the averaging time intervals. Thus, the regional transport means
sediment transport across the regions from 100 m to 100 km long with the averaging
time intervals from several hours to several years. Natural regional transports may
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R.D. Kosyan and B.V. Divinskiy
mineral composition or formation of definite sediment textures and structures
should not be regarded as an object of lithodynamics, though their understanding
requires the knowledge of the regularities of the contact zone dynamics. Thus, the
major object of lithodynamics is to study the process of transport itself rather than
the analysis of migrating sediments or resulting sediment forms. Morphodynamic
phenomena and differentiation of sediments according to the hydraulic coarseness
are the consequences immediately governed by the regularities of the sediment
transport; hence they are related to the secondary lithologic, geomorphologic, and
other consequences of the lithodynamic processes.
The regularities of the ocean contact zone dynamics can be used to solve many
applied and scientific problems. They include all kinds of engineering problems
connected with the dynamics of sediment and topography of shallow depths,
protection and reinforcement of coasts, construction of hydrotechnical stations in
the near-shore and shelf zones, provision of navigation security, prospecting and
exploitation of deposits on the ocean shelf and coastal zones. Understanding the
surface sediment accumulation and transport forming the sequence of the ocean
floor deposits is most essential at greater depths. It is difficult to have a clear picture
of the depositional history and development of the ocean floor without full understanding of the dynamics of these sediments.
Finally, the construction of an overall picture of the sediment transport from the
continents to the ocean floor and the creation of a reliable model of all links of
global lithodynamic processes are the major tasks of the ocean lithodynamics as a
whole.
The whole variety of lithodynamic phenomena and processes in the ocean can be
divided into two methodically distinct groups and consequently into two types of
models of the systems under study. These models can be conventionally called
physico-mathematical and physico-geographical. Investigations of the first group
are included into the contents of the dynamics of the oceanic contact zone, while the
research complex of the second group represents the subject of the physical
geography, which can be called regional lithodynamics of the ocean.
The concept of sediment transport in the ocean as a phenomenon representing
the subject of our investigation, should be considered as a starting point for both
types of research. The sediment transport is a general concept: it includes overall,
unidirectional sediment transport averaged over any given period of time. In
accordance with the models of the lithodynamic system, the sediment transport
may be also divided into the local and regional. We understand the local transport as
the simplest implementation of the processes of unidirectional sediment transport
with the shortest averaging time interval (seconds and minutes). The local transport
models usually imply a possibility of raising a two-dimensional problem, while
transport sections to be modeled are rather short (up to several tens of meters) in
accordance with the averaging time intervals. Thus, the regional transport means
sediment transport across the regions from 100 m to 100 km long with the averaging
time intervals from several hours to several years. Natural regional transports may
120
R.D. Kosyan and B.V. Divinskiy