What determines the downstream evolution of turbidity currents?

Heerema，Catharina J.1; Talling，Peter J.1; Cartigny，Matthieu J.1; Paull，Charles K.2; Bailey，Lewis3,4; Simmons，Stephen M.5; Parsons，Daniel R.5; Clare，Michael A.4; Gwiazda，Roberto2; Lundsten，Eve2; Anderson，Krystle2; Maier，Katherine L.2,6,7; Xu，Jingping P.8,9; Sumner，Esther J.3; Rosenberger，Kurt6; Gales，Jenny10; McGann，Mary6; Carter，Lionel11; Pope，Edward1

2020-02-15

10.1016/j.epsl.2019.116023

EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS   影响因子和分区

0012-821X

1385-013X

Seabed sediment flows called turbidity currents form some of the largest sediment accumulations, deepest canyons and longest channel systems on Earth. Only rivers transport comparable sediment volumes over such large areas; but there are far fewer measurements from turbidity currents, ensuring they are much more poorly understood. Turbidity currents differ fundamentally from rivers, as turbidity currents are driven by the sediment that they suspend. Fast turbidity currents can pick up sediment, and self-accelerate (ignite); whilst slow flows deposit sediment and dissipate. Self-acceleration cannot continue indefinitely, and flows might reach a near-uniform state (autosuspension). Here we show how turbidity currents evolve using the first detailed measurements from multiple locations along their pathway, which come from Monterey Canyon offshore California. All flows initially ignite. Typically, initially-faster flows then achieve near-uniform velocities (autosuspension), whilst slower flows dissipate. Fractional increases in initial velocity favour much longer runout, and a new model explains this bifurcating behaviour. However, the only flow during less-stormy summer months is anomalous as it self-accelerated, which is perhaps due to erosion of surficial-mud layer mid-canyon. Turbidity current evolution is therefore highly sensitive to both initial velocities and seabed character.

autosuspension dissipation flow behaviour ignition submarine canyon turbidity current

SCI ; EI

英语

NI期刊

其他

Ocean University of China[] ; Immune Tolerance Network[] ; [721403] ; U.S. Geological Survey[] ; [NE/R015953/1] ; David and Lucile Packard Foundation[NE/M007138/1] ; Leverhulme Trust[ECF-2018-267] ; U.S. Geological Survey[]

Geochemistry & Geophysics

Geochemistry & Geophysics

WOS:000513291400007

Elsevier B.V.

20195207902539

Energy dissipation ; Ignition ; Ocean currents ; Offshore oil well production ; Sediment transport

Seawater, Tides and Waves:471.4 ; Oil Field Production Operations:511.1 ; Fuel Combustion:521.1 ; Energy Losses (industrial and residential):525.4 ; Light/Optics:741.1

GEOSCIENCES

2-s2.0-85076752369

Scopus

1.Departments of Geography and Earth Sciences,Durham University,Durham,DH1 3LE,United Kingdom
2.Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute,Moss Landing,95039,United States
3.Ocean and Earth Science,University of Southampton,European Way,Southampton,SO14 3ZH,United Kingdom
4.National Oceanography Centre,University of Southampton Waterfront Campus,European Way,Southampton,SO14 3ZH,United Kingdom
5.Energy and Environment Institute,University of Hull,Hull,Cottingham Road,HU6 7RX,United Kingdom
6.Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center,U.S. G.S.,Santa Cruz,95060,United States
7.National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research,Wellington,New Zealand
8.Southern University of Science and Technology of China,Shenzhen,518055,China
9.Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology,Qingdao,266061,China
10.University of Plymouth,Plymouth,Drake Circus,PL4 8AA,United Kingdom
11.Antarctic Research Centre,Victoria University of Wellington,Wellington,New Zealand
12.

Heerema，Catharina J.,Talling，Peter J.,Cartigny，Matthieu J.,et al. What determines the downstream evolution of turbidity currents?[J]. EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS,2020,532.

Heerema，Catharina J..,Talling，Peter J..,Cartigny，Matthieu J..,Paull，Charles K..,Bailey，Lewis.,...&Pope，Edward.(2020).What determines the downstream evolution of turbidity currents?.EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS,532.

Heerema，Catharina J.,et al."What determines the downstream evolution of turbidity currents?".EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS 532(2020).