HYDRODYNAMIC MECHANISM OF TURBIDITY CURRENTS IN ESTUARY STRATIFICATIONS

Turbidity Currents and Seabed Morphology

Our main goal is to assess the hydrodynamics of turbidity currents and mudflows and their ability to produce morphological features such as ripples, dunes, antidunes and gullies along their paths. Of particular interest is to elucidate the role played by turbidity currents on the inception of submarine channels and canyons. To this end, understanding the mechanics of sediment erosion, including...

Turbidity Currents and Their Deposits

The article surveys the current state of our understanding of turbidity currents, with an emphasis on their fluid mechanics. It highlights the significant role these currents play within the global sediment cycle, and their importance in environmental processes and in the formation of hydrocarbon reservoirs. Events and mechanisms governing the initiation of turbidity currents are reviewed, alon...

Venting of Turbidity Currents: When to Act?

During floods, sediments are transported from watersheds into reservoirs, slowly decreasing water volumes and this leading to economic losses. Thus, in the long term, sedimentation endangers reservoirs’ sustainability. Sediments can also block low-level hydraulic structures such as bottom outlets and powerhouse intakes and cause abrasion of gates and turbines. Additionally, the trapped sediment...

Salinity and turbidity distributions in the Brisbane River estuary, Australia

Effects of Prevailing Winds on Turbidity of a Shallow Estuary

Estuarine waters are generally more turbid than lakes or marine waters due to greater algal mass and continual re-suspension of sediments. The varying effects of diurnal and seasonal prevailing winds on the turbidity condition of a wind-dominated estuary were investigated by spatial and statistical analyses of wind direction, water level, turbidity, chlorophyll a, and PAR (Photosynthetically Ac...