Understanding basin-fill evolution and the origin of stratal architectures has traditionally been based on studies of outcrops, well and seismic data, studies of and inferences on qualitative geological processes, and to a lesser extent based on quantitative observations of modern and ancient sedimentary environments. Insight gained on the basis of these studies can increasingly be tested and extended through the application of numerical and analogue forward models.Present-day stratigraphic forward modelling follows two principle lines: 1) the deterministic process-based approach, ideally with resolution of the fundamental equations of fluid and sediment motion at all scales, and 2) the stochastic approach. The process-based approach leads to improved understanding of the dynamics (physics) of the system, increasing our predictive power of how systems evolve under various forcing conditions unless the system is highly non-linear and hence difficult or perhaps even impossible to predict. The stochastic approach is more direct, relatively simple, and useful for study of more complicated or less-well understood systems. Process-based models, more than stochastic ones, are directly limited by the diversity of temporal and spatial scales and the very incomplete knowledge of how processes operate and interact on the various scales.The papers included in this book demonstrate how cross-fertilization between traditional field studies and analogue and numerical forward modelling expands our understanding of Earth-surface systems.

Preface.Numerical simulation of the syn- to post-depositional history ofa prograding carbonate platform: the Rosengarten, Middle Triassic,Dolomites, Italy (Axel Emmerich, Robert Tscherny, ThiloBechstädt, Carsten Büker, Ullrich A. Glasmacher, RalfLittke and Rainer Zühlke).Fine-scale forward modelling of a Devonian patch reef, CanningBasin, Western Australia (Claude-Alain Hasler, Erwin W. Adams,Rachel A. Wood and Tony Dickson).Structural, reverse-basin and forward stratigraphic modelling ofthe Southern Cantabrian Basin, northwest Spain (ZbynekVeselovsky, Thilo Bechstädt and RainerZühlke).Numerical modelling of alluvial deposits: recent developments(John Bridge).Process-based stochastic modelling: meandering channelizedreservoirs (Simon Lopez, Isabelle Cojan, Jacques Rivoirard andAlain Galli).Simulation of tidal flow and circulation patterns in the EarlyMiocene (Upper Marine Molasse) of the Alpine foreland basin(Ulrich Bieg, Michael Peter Süss and JoachimKuhlemann).Predicting discharge and sediment flux of the Po River, Italysince the Last Glacial Maximum (Albert J. Kettner and James P.M.Syvitski).Impact of discharge, sediment flux and sea-level change onstratigraphic architecture of river-delta-shelf systems(George Postma and Aart Peter van den Berg vanSaparoea).Grain-size sorting of river-shelf-slope sedimentsduring glacial-interglacial cycles: modelling grain-sizedistribution and interconnectedness of coarse-grained bodies(Xander D. Meijer0.Modelling the preservation of sedimentary deposits on passivecontinental margins during glacial-interglacial cycles(Xander D. Meijer, George Postma, Peter A. Burrough and Poppe L.de Boer).Modelling source-rock distribution and quality variations: theorganic facies modelling approach (Ute Mann and JanineZweigel).Spatial data templates: combining simple models of physicalprocesses with stochastic noise to yield stable, archetypallandforms (Peter A. Burrough).Models that talk back (John C. Tipper).Index.