Description / Table of Contents:
PREFACE Turbidity currents have been comprehensively studied in the past although much remains unknown about both their flow characteristics and resultant sedimentary deposits. Much of this uncertainty arises from the catastrophic nature of their formation which makes them difficult to study in the environment, and has resulted in the majority of studies being experimental or theoretical. Experiments have shown that reversals in the flow of density currents can be associated with the generation of internal solitary waves. This is in contrast to the belief held by many workers that the reversal of a turbidity current simply generates an identical flow travelling in the opposite direction. This book arose from the need for a detailed experimental study to examine the effects and to consider the consequences of density current reversals from a variety of obstructions to their flow. The first part of this book comprises a detailed review of literature covering the fluid dynamics and sedimentology relevant to the experimental study (chapter one). Chapter two presents the results from the comprehensive experimental programme which are discussed and compared with appropiate theoretical hypotheses. This permits the synthesis of a model for the general features of flows that result from the incidence of density currents upon obstructions to the flow. The application of this model to both modern and ancient turbidite systems is then discussed in chapter three. This book is suitable for earth scientists with an interest in the dynamics of turbidity currents. In addition, workers from other fields such as applied maths, meteorology and engineering who have an interest in density currents and bores in practical situations may find it useful...
Pages:
Online-Ressource (173 Seiten)
ISBN:
9783540561231
URL:
https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0019704
Language:
English
