Problems of chenier genesis and terminology — An overview

Abstract

A stricter definition of the terms chenier and chenier plain involves genetic concepts and good subsurface control that avoids pitfalls caused by superficial morphological resemblance between true chenier plains and partially buried beach ridge-strand plains (beach plains), masked by surficial salt marsh or fresh water-deltaic deposits. The presence of a mud (silt and clay) discharging stream is required for chenier plain formation. Two categories exist among the verified chenier plains: the large-scale bight coast and the small-scale bayhead types. Low-to-medium average wave energies and micro-to-macrotidal conditions prevail on the different chenier plain shores. Shifts in the Mississippi subdeltas and littoral migration of Guiana shore mudflat segments have a major role in large-scale changes of bight chenier plain development, but minor changes in localized hydrological and sedimentation patterns are also responsible for alternate chenier ridge and interchenier mudflat formation in both chenier plain categories.