Continuous-time Markov processes as a stochastic model for sedimentation

Markov processes with a continuous-time parameter are more satisfactory for describing sedimentation than discrete-time Markov chains because they treat sedimentation as a natural process that happens continuously (i.e., which is unbroken in time). They also avoid certain technicalities that arise in discrete time—namely, the choice of a time unit. Finally, they yield not only the same information as a discrete-time analysis, but also give information about the distribution of the thicknesses of the lithologies.