Relationship among basin capacity, sediment supply and water supply controls the first-order depositional environments in non-marine rift basins. Case 1 results in through-going drainage systems, e.g., fluvial sedimentation. Cases 2 and 3 result in internal drainage and lacustrine sedimentation, with a shallow-water lake in Case 2 and a deep-water lake in Case 3. Note that a shallow lake results in Case 2, no matter how wet the climate is, because the excess capacity is small. Modified from Withjack et al. (2002) based on Schlische & Olsen (1990) and Schlische & Anders (1996).

Relationship among basin capacity, sediment supply and water supply