How do turbidity flows interact with contour currents in unidirectionally migrating deep-water channels?

Research Article| April 26, 2018 How do turbidity flows interact with contour currents in unidirectionally migrating deep-water channels? Chenglin Gong; Chenglin Gong 1State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting (China University of Petroleum, Beijing), Changping, Beijing 102249, China2College of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Changping, Beijing, 102249, China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Yingmin Wang; Yingmin Wang 2College of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Changping, Beijing, 102249, China3Ocean College, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Michele Rebesco; Michele Rebesco 4Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale (OGS), Borgo Grotta Gigante 42/C, 34010 Sgonico, Trieste, Italy Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Stefano Salon; Stefano Salon 4Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale (OGS), Borgo Grotta Gigante 42/C, 34010 Sgonico, Trieste, Italy Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Ronald J. Steel Ronald J. Steel 5Department of Geological Sciences, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Chenglin Gong 1State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting (China University of Petroleum, Beijing), Changping, Beijing 102249, China2College of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Changping, Beijing, 102249, China Yingmin Wang 2College of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Changping, Beijing, 102249, China3Ocean College, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China Michele Rebesco 4Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale (OGS), Borgo Grotta Gigante 42/C, 34010 Sgonico, Trieste, Italy Stefano Salon 4Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale (OGS), Borgo Grotta Gigante 42/C, 34010 Sgonico, Trieste, Italy Ronald J. Steel 5Department of Geological Sciences, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 24 Feb 2018 Revision Received: 13 Apr 2018 Accepted: 16 Apr 2018 First Online: 26 Apr 2018 Online Issn: 1943-2682 Print Issn: 0091-7613 © 2018 Geological Society of America Geology (2018) 46 (6): 551–554. https://doi.org/10.1130/G40204.1 Article history Received: 24 Feb 2018 Revision Received: 13 Apr 2018 Accepted: 16 Apr 2018 First Online: 26 Apr 2018 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Chenglin Gong, Yingmin Wang, Michele Rebesco, Stefano Salon, Ronald J. Steel; How do turbidity flows interact with contour currents in unidirectionally migrating deep-water channels?. Geology 2018;; 46 (6): 551–554. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G40204.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Inspired by the two-layer model of a stratified lake forced by wind stress, we introduce the concept of Wedderburn number (W) to quantify, for the first time, how turbidity and contour currents interacted to determine sedimentation in unidirectionally migrating deep-water channels (UCs). Bankfull turbidity flows in the studied UCs were computed to be supercritical (Froude number of 1.11–1.38) and had velocities of 1.72–2.59 m/s. Contour currents with assumed constant velocities of between 0.10 m/s and 0.30 m/s flowing through their upper parts would result in pycnoclines between turbidity and contour currents, with amplitudes of up to 7.07 m. Such pycnoclines, in most cases, would produce Kelvin-Helmholtz billows and bores that had velocities of 0.87–1.48 m/s and prograded toward the steep channel flanks by 4.0° to 19.2°. Pycnoclines' wavefronts with the strongest shocks and deepest oscillations would, therefore, occur preferentially along the steep flanks, thereby promoting erosion; on the other hand, their wavetails with the weakest shocks and shallowest oscillations would occur preferentially along the gentle flanks, thereby promoting deposition. Such asymmetric intra-channel deposition, in turn, forced individual channels to consistently migrate toward the steep flanks, forming channels with unidirectional channel trajectories and asymmetrical channel cross sections. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.