Continuity of Turbidity Current Flow and Systematic Variations in Deep-Sea Channel Morphology

Research Article| October 01, 1973 Continuity of Turbidity Current Flow and Systematic Variations in Deep-Sea Channel Morphology PAUL D. KOMAR PAUL D. KOMAR 1School of Oceanography, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information PAUL D. KOMAR 1School of Oceanography, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (1973) 84 (10): 3329–3338. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1973)84<3329:COTCFA>2.0.CO;2 Article history First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation PAUL D. KOMAR; Continuity of Turbidity Current Flow and Systematic Variations in Deep-Sea Channel Morphology. GSA Bulletin 1973;; 84 (10): 3329–3338. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1973)84<3329:COTCFA>2.0.CO;2 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 SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract When a turbidity current flow decreases in velocity due to a decrease in bottom slope, the thickness of the flow must correspondingly increase to maintain continuity of discharge. This increase has been offered as a possible explanation for observed systematic increases in the relief of submarine channels along their lengths.A simplified computer model of turbidity current flow along a channel is developed which indicates that without any dilution of the flow by water entrainment, a reasonable decrease in channel-axis slope could more than double the thickness of the flow. With dilution, the thickness could easily increase by a factor four or more. The systematic increases in channel relief might therefore be explained.The approach is applied to Cascadia Channel, located off the coast of the northwest United States, to test whether reasonable amounts of flow dilution could account for the observed increase in channel relief. It is found that continuity of flow could explain much of the increase, but subsequent channel erosion (deepening and widening) has to be called upon to account for the entire increase in channel cross-sectional area. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.