Morphodynamics of submarine channel inception revealed by new experimental approach
Morphodynamics of submarine channel inception revealed by new experimental approach
Submarine channels are ubiquitous on the seafloor and their inception and evolution is a result of dynamic interaction between turbidity currents and the evolving seafloor. However, the morphodynamic links between channel inception and flow dynamics have not yet been monitored in experiments and only in one instance on the modern seafloor. Previous experimental flows did not show channel inception, because flow conditions were not appropriately scaled to sustain suspended sediment transport. Here we introduce and apply new scaling constraints for similarity between natural and experimental turbidity currents. The scaled currents initiate a leveed channel from an initially featureless slope. Channelization commences with deposition of levees in some slope segments and erosion of a conduit in other segments. Channel relief and flow confinement increase progressively during subsequent flows. This morphodynamic evolution determines the architecture of submarine channel deposits in the stratigraphic record and efficiency of sediment bypass to the basin floor.
10886
de Leeuw, Jan
a7857f44-b451-44d3-a368-813f9ea38f92
Eggenhuisen, Joris T.
157ad755-8819-48cb-8694-6bbffa20b727
Cartigny, Matthieu J.B.
d252d7b1-16c6-47b1-bf86-8087070934ce
21 March 2016
de Leeuw, Jan
a7857f44-b451-44d3-a368-813f9ea38f92
Eggenhuisen, Joris T.
157ad755-8819-48cb-8694-6bbffa20b727
Cartigny, Matthieu J.B.
d252d7b1-16c6-47b1-bf86-8087070934ce
de Leeuw, Jan, Eggenhuisen, Joris T. and Cartigny, Matthieu J.B.
(2016)
Morphodynamics of submarine channel inception revealed by new experimental approach.
Nature Communications, 7, .
(doi:10.1038/ncomms10886).
Abstract
Submarine channels are ubiquitous on the seafloor and their inception and evolution is a result of dynamic interaction between turbidity currents and the evolving seafloor. However, the morphodynamic links between channel inception and flow dynamics have not yet been monitored in experiments and only in one instance on the modern seafloor. Previous experimental flows did not show channel inception, because flow conditions were not appropriately scaled to sustain suspended sediment transport. Here we introduce and apply new scaling constraints for similarity between natural and experimental turbidity currents. The scaled currents initiate a leveed channel from an initially featureless slope. Channelization commences with deposition of levees in some slope segments and erosion of a conduit in other segments. Channel relief and flow confinement increase progressively during subsequent flows. This morphodynamic evolution determines the architecture of submarine channel deposits in the stratigraphic record and efficiency of sediment bypass to the basin floor.
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ncomms10886.pdf
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Published date: 21 March 2016
Organisations:
Marine Geoscience
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Local EPrints ID: 393809
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/393809
PURE UUID: af05ef93-ef67-4c47-8873-b9707da0e2c5
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Date deposited: 04 May 2016 14:25
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 00:10
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Author:
Jan de Leeuw
Author:
Joris T. Eggenhuisen
Author:
Matthieu J.B. Cartigny
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