Author(s): Esther Eke; Gary Parker; Ruiyu Wang
Linked Author(s): Gary Parker, Ruiyu Wang
Keywords: Breaching; Turbidity currents; Submarine canyon
Abstract: The term “breaching” refers to the slow, retrogressive failure of a steep subaqueous slope. This mechanism, first identified by the dredging industry, has remained largely unexplored, and yet evidence exists to link breaching to the formation of sustained turbidity currents in the deep sea. To this end, small-scale laboratory tests were designed and carried out to observe the breach failure pattern and its deposits, as well as, to determine the characteristics of breach-generated turbidity currents. The experiments served as the basis for motivating a 3-equation, layer-averaged numerical model which is tested and extended with the aid of the experimental results.
Year: 2009