Surge mark formation and morphology

Surge marks have previously been described as hieroglyphs and more recently as erosional rills caused by the turbulent bank-swashing of storm waters upstream of obstructions. This paper presents evidence that surge marks have various forms directly related to the steepness of sediment slope. These features are due, at least in part, to deformation and not necessarily to erosion by surging water. The previous term dendritic surge mark may now only apply to one member of the surge mark formation.