In-situ measurements of velocity structure within turbidity currents
article (827.1Kb)Abstract
Turbidity currents are thought to be the main mechanism to move ~ 500,000m3 of sediments annually from the head of the Monterey Submarine Canyon, to the deep-sea fan. Indirect evidence has shown frequent occurrences of such turbidity currents in the canyon, but the dynamic properties of the turbidity currents such as maximum speed, duration and dimensions are still unknown. Here we present the first-ever in-situ measurements of velocity profiles of four turbidity currents whose maximum along-canyon velocity reached 190cm/s. Two turbidity currents coincided with storms that produced the higest swells and the biggest stream flows during the year-long deployment.
Description
The article of record as published may be found at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2004GL019718
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This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.Collections
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