An Indicator of Waterflow in Caves

Coleman, Jason

doi:10.1017/s0016756800078134

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…This increase of the erosional potential also increases the potential for scour formation over the entire area in which the flow relaxes. Experiments have shown that erosive conditions can trigger the formation of fields of individual scours, in which the location of individual scours is controlled by random irregularities on the ocean floor 37,38 . Such irregularities could consist of patches of coarser grains, a series of small-scale bedforms, a scour surrounding a boulder, or any biological feature.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

New flow relaxation mechanism explains scour fields at the end of submarine channels

et al. 2019

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Particle-laden gravity flows, called turbidity currents, flow through river-like channels across the ocean floor. These submarine channels funnel sediment, nutrients, pollutants and organic carbon into ocean basins and can extend for over 1000’s of kilometers. Upon reaching the end of these channels, flows lose their confinement, decelerate, and deposit their sediment load; this is what we read in textbooks. However, sea floor observations have shown the opposite: turbidity currents tend to erode the seafloor upon losing confinement. Here we use a state-of-the-art scaling method to produce the first experimental turbidity currents that erode upon leaving a channel. The experiments reveal a novel flow mechanism, here called flow relaxation, that explains this erosion. Flow relaxation is rapid flow deformation resulting from the loss of confinement, which enhances basal shearing of the turbidity current and leads to scouring. This flow mechanism plays a key role in the propagation of submarine channel systems.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%