Towards the standardization of sequence stratigraphy Discussion

摘要

The paper by Catuneanu et al. (2009) is a much welcome effort to establish a conceptual consensus in sequence stratigraphy following the first fewdecades of this discipline's poorly coordinated development,with confusingly diversified concepts and a degree of rivalry among its various schools of thought. It is a highly commendable and intelligently presented effort based on sound reasoning, and–despite some shortcomings–the authors have succeeded in proposing a common ground that may have a good chance of being accepted by many practitioners of sequence stratigraphy. The distinction between model-dependent and modelindependent stratigraphic notions is a sound approach to the negotiation and definition of this common ground. The task of sequence stratigraphy should obviously be a model-independent distinction of the genetic types of deposits and sequence stratigraphic surfaces, and the authors have come close to defining these key elements in a way that may satisfy proponents of the diverse schools. What Catuneanu et al. (op. cit.) offer in their paper is an inclusive compromise integrating most of the crucial ideas that have been at the heart of the various schools, and this approach will almost certainly appeal to many sequence stratigraphers.