Margin Morphodynamics: Debris Flows, Turbidity Currents and Experimental Margin Stratigraphy

Three approaches have been taken to the study of submarine debris flows. 1) Measurements laterally constrained debris flow dynamics and pore pressure variation have been performed in the “Fish Tank” facility. 2) The dynamics of unconfined debris flows have been studied using the “Main Channel.” 3) A numerical model of muddy debris flows is being extended to a) sandy debris flows and b) the reworking of antecedent deposits by overriding debris flows. Experiments on turbidity currents have been focused on deposition in diapiric intraslope minibasins and erosion of the ridges in between. An extensive program of experiments on both erosional and depositional turbidity currents in the 1-D “Garcia Tank” has been conducted. In addition, a single long experiment has been performed in the “Jurassic Tank” facility to understand the interaction of tectonic subsidence and depositional turbidity currents. The stratigraphy created in the experiments was constructed from numerous pulse-like and continuous turbidity currents. A numerical model is being developed based on the experimental results. Finally, experiments have been performed on prograding deltas, the bottomsets of which were