Showing papers on "Monterey Canyon published in 2020"
Durham University1, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute2, National Oceanography Centre3, University of Southampton4, University of Hull5, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research6, University of Science and Technology of China7, University of Plymouth8, Victoria University of Wellington9
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors show how turbidity currents evolve using the first detailed measurements from multiple locations along their pathway, which come from Monterey Canyon offshore California and show that initially-faster flows then achieve near-uniform velocities (autosuspension), whilst slower flows dissipate.
51 citations
01 Jul 2020
TL;DR: In this paper, the most detailed near-bed sediment concentrations measurements from a powerful turbidity current in Monterey Canyon, offshore California, were presented, where they employed a novel approach using correlations between conductivity and sediment concentration, which unlike previous methods can measure very high concentrations and not sensitive to grain size.
Abstract: Submarine turbidity currents are one of the most important sediment transfer processes on earth. Yet the fundamental nature of turbidity currents is still debated; especially whether they are entirely dilute and turbulent, or a thin and dense basal layer drives the flow. This major knowledge gap is mainly due to a near-complete lack of direct measurements of sediment concentration within active submarine flows. Here we present the most detailed near-bed sediment concentrations measurements from a powerful turbidity current in Monterey Canyon, offshore California. We employ a novel approach using correlations between conductivity and sediment concentration, which unlike previous methods can measure very high concentrations and not sensitive to grain size. We find that sediment concentrations close to the canyon floor gradually increased after the arrival of the turbidity current, until reaching a maximum value of 12%, the highest concentration ever inferred from direct measurements in turbidity currents. We also show a two-layer flow head, with a fast (up to 4 m/s), thin and dense basal layer overlain by a thicker (~50 m) dilute flow. At the interface of these two layers, there seems to be a sharp steep concentration gradient. Such quantitative measurements of sediment concentration can produce a key step forward in understanding the basic character and dynamics of these powerful submarine flows.
14 citations