The Competence of Turbidity Current Flow

Research Article| May 01, 1970 The Competence of Turbidity Current Flow PAUL D KOMAR PAUL D KOMAR Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, La Jolla, California 92037 AUTHOR'S PRESENT ADDRESS: MINISTRY OF TECHNOLOGY, HYDRAULICS RESEARCH STATION, WALLINGFORD, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information PAUL D KOMAR AUTHOR'S PRESENT ADDRESS: MINISTRY OF TECHNOLOGY, HYDRAULICS RESEARCH STATION, WALLINGFORD, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, La Jolla, California 92037 Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 18 Aug 1969 Revision Received: 01 Dec 1969 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Copyright © 1970, The Geological Society of America, Inc. Copyright is not claimed on any material prepared by U.S. government employees within the scope of their employment. GSA Bulletin (1970) 81 (5): 1555–1562. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1970)81[1555:TCOTCF]2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 18 Aug 1969 Revision Received: 01 Dec 1969 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation PAUL D KOMAR; The Competence of Turbidity Current Flow. GSA Bulletin 1970;; 81 (5): 1555–1562. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1970)81[1555:TCOTCF]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 The competence of turbidity currents, that is, their ability to transport coarse material, is examined. The stress required to transport grains of diameter D (where D is greater than 7 mm) is evaluated with where (ρs − ρt) is the density difference between the grains and the turbidity current. The bottom stress exerted by a flow of thickness h and density ρt on a slope sinβ is estimated from the relationship where ρ is the density of water and the factor 1.50 takes into consideration the decrease in stress exerted on the bottom due to the drag on the upper interface of the flow by the overlying water. These relationships are applied to modern turbidity currents confined to the Cascadia deep-sea fan channel. It is concluded that flows with expected dimensions yield sufficient bottom stress to transport the gravels observed in the channel. The equations are also applied to a cobble deposit contained within an ancient deep-sea channel (Doheny channel of the late Miocene lower Capistrano Formation, California). It is concluded that even these cobbles could be transported by turbidity currents of reasonable dimensions and density, flowing down the estimated paleoslope. 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.