Friction-Dominated

Friction-dominated deltas are associated with high bed friction and shear stress. These stresses cause the flow to slow down rapidly and deposit sediment with a wider lateral extent than the inertia-dominated deltas. The river/basin setting for this type of situation is more common. It consists of a shallow water level where the river flow and basin meet. This shallow area is a major factor in producing a friction-dominated delta. Features associated with this type of delta include subaqueous levees, middle ground bars (fining seaward), and bifurcated channels.