Development of Gullies and Bedforms in Continental Slopes By Turbidity Currents
Abstract
LONG-TERM GOAL. Our long-term scientific goal is to develop sound theoretical models for submarine sediment movement that can be used to predict the initiation, spatial development, and time duration of mud flows and turbidity currents. Of great interest are the characteristics of the sedimentary deposits that these flows generate, in particular their capability to develop bed forms and gullies by means of sediment erosion and deposition in continental margins. OBJECTIVES. Our main objective this past year has been to test the hypothesis that turbidity currents could be responsible for the development of gullies and submarine channels in continental slopes. A second objective has been to explore the ability of turbidity currents to generate bedforms , such as antidunes, along their path. APPROACH Our approach has consisted of theoretical work, laboratory experiments, and numerical modeling. The theoretical work has concentrated in a perturbation analysis of the equations of motion for turbidity currents, with the goal of assessing the conditions for which bedforms will develop. Laboratory experiments have been directed to the formation of bedforms by channelized turbidity currents, as well as the formation of submarine gullies by three-dimensional turbidity currents emanating from a line source at the head of a model slope. Numerical modeling, with the help of layer-averaged equations of motion together with a cellular model, has been used to explore the formation of submarine gullies through sediment erosion and deposition.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA628901
Entities
People
- Marcelo H. García
Organizations
- University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign