The Influence of Confining Topography Orientation on Experimental Turbidity Currents and Geological Implications

Turbidity currents distribute sediment across the seafloor, forming important archives of tectonic and climatic change on Earth’s surface. current deposition is affected by seafloor topography, therefore understanding interaction turbidity with topography increases our ability to interpret from stratigraphic record. Here, using Shields-scaled physical models currents, we aim better constrain effect confining erosion. The subaqueous consists an erodible barrier orientated 1) parallel, 2) oblique 3) perpendicular incoming flow. An unconfined control run generated a supercritical that decelerated slope, lobate deposit thickened basinwards before abruptly thinning. Flow-parallel confinement resulted in erosion flow, enhanced axial velocities, extended farther into basin than when unconfined. Oblique caused partial deflection acceleration flow along barrier, which bifurcated around barrier. Forced deceleration at slope. Frontal onlap lateral spreading down-dip overspill formed deeper basin. Acceleration down back this generation plunge-pool foot as impacted slope substrate. Observations ancient modern systems can be explained models, such as: thick sandstones upstream thin high slopes, complex variety stacking patterns produced confinement. These also highlight impact criticality confined topographically-forced transitions between subcritical conditions suggested depositional these flows.