First source-to-sink monitoring shows dense head controls sediment flux and runout in turbidity currents.

ABSTRACT: Until recently, despite being one of the most important sediment transport phenomena on Earth, few direct measurements of turbidity currents existed. Consequently, their structure and evolution were poorly understood, particularly whether they are dense or dilute. Here, we analyze the largest number of turbidity currents monitored to date from source to sink. We show sediment transport and internal flow characteristic evolution as they runout. Observed frontal regions (heads) are fast (>1.5 m/s), thin (<10 m), dense (depth averaged concentrations up to 38%_vol), strongly stratified, and dominated by grain-to-grain interactions, or slower (<1 m/s), dilute (<0.01%_vol), and well mixed with turbulence supporting sediment. Between these end-members, a transitional flow head

SUBMITTER: Pope EL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9116613 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature