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In-situ measurements of velocity structure within turbidity currents

January 1, 2004

Turbidity currents are thought to be the main mechanism to move ???500,000 m3 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. Copyright 2004 by the American Geophysical Union.

Publication Year 2004
Title In-situ measurements of velocity structure within turbidity currents
DOI 10.1029/2004GL019718
Authors J. P. Xu, M. A. Noble, L.K. Rosenfeld
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Geophysical Research Letters
Index ID 70027180
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse