--> --> ABSTRACT: How Viscosity and Density Stratification Changes Submarine Mass Flow Behaviour, by Peter J. Talling, Jeffrey Peakall, William McCaffrey, Lawrence Amy, and Steven Sparks; #90906(2001)
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Peter J. Talling1, Jeffrey Peakall2, William McCaffrey3, Lawrence Amy2, Steven Sparks1

(1) Bristol University (Centre for Environmental and Geophysical Flows), Bristol, United Kingdom
(2) Leeds University, Leeds, United Kingdom
(3) Leeds University, Leeds

ABSTRACT: How Viscosity and Density Stratification Changes Submarine Mass Flow Behaviour

Vertical stratification of sediment concentration is ubiquitous within submarine mass-flows, particularly those containing a wide range of grain-sizes with highly-variable settling velocities. Concentration stratification leads to stratification of density, viscosity and grain-size.

Preliminary experiments with two layers of variable density show that density-stratified currents and homogeneous density currents behave in fundamentally different ways. For instance, if the density difference is sufficient, the basal high-density Previous HitlayerNext Hit can out-run the overlying less-dense Previous HitlayerNext Hit.

Ongoing experiments are investigating flow behaviour when the lower-Previous HitlayerNext Hit is BOTH denser and more viscous. This is likely to be the case for submarine mass-flows. If the particle concentration and viscosity is sufficiently high in the lower Previous HitlayerNext Hit, it travels more slowly that the upper Previous HitlayerNext Hit. The Previous HitheadNext Hit is thus fed primarily by low density and viscosity fluid from the upper Previous HitlayerNext Hit. In certain situations the Previous HitheadTop can then accelerate away from the high-density and viscosity body of the flow. This leads to longitudinal stratification of the flow into distinct components.

Debris-flow deposits are commonly seen sandwiched within the clean sand of high-density turbidity current deposits in northern Italy. These intra-bed debris flow deposits represent significant baffles, as they can extend for over 20 km. Similar 'sandwich beds' are observed in other classic deep-marine sequences (e.g. Piera Cava basin) and in the deposits of other particulate gravity currents (e.g. lahars). Stratified-flow experiments and field observations will investigate whether these 'sandwich beds' result from longitudinal stratification due to the variable forward speed of flow-components, or a variety of other mechanisms.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90906©2001 AAPG Annual Convention, Denver, Colorado