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In‐situ measurements of velocity structure within turbidity currents
Author(s) -
Xu J. P.,
Noble M. A.,
Rosenfeld L. K.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2004gl019718
Subject(s) - turbidity current , canyon , turbidity , geology , submarine canyon , oceanography , current (fluid) , submarine , swell , hydrology (agriculture) , geomorphology , geotechnical engineering , structural basin , sedimentary depositional environment
Turbidity currents are thought to be the main mechanism to move ∼500,000 m 3 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 190 cm/s. Two turbidity currents coincided with storms that produced the highest swells and the biggest stream flows during the year‐long deployment.