A Conceptual Investigation of Transition to Self-Driven Turbidity Currents From Along-Shelf Current-Supported Turbidity Currents

Wave- and current-supported turbidity currents (WCSTCs) are one of the sediment delivery mechanisms from the inner shelf to the shelf break. Therefore, they play a significant role in the global cycles of geo-chemically important particulate matter. Recent observations suggest that WCSTCs can transform into self-driven turbidity currents close to the continental margin. However, little is known regarding the critical conditions that grow self-driven turbidity currents out of WCSTCs. This is in part due to the knowledge gaps in the dynamics of WCSTCs regarding the role of density stratification. Especially the effect of sediment entrainment on the amount of sediment suspension has been overlooked. To this end, this study revisits the existing theoretical framework for a simplified WCSTC, in which waves are absent, that is, along-shelf current-supported turbidity current. A depth-integrated advection model is developed for suspended sediment concentration. The model results, which are verified by turbulence-resolving simulations, indicate that the amount of suspended sediment load is regulated by the equilibrium among positive/negative feedback between entrainment and cross-shelf gravity force/density stratification, and settling flux dissociated with density stratification. It is also found that critical density stratification is not a necessary condition for equilibrium. A quantitative relation is developed for the critical conditions for self-driven turbidity currents, which is a function of bed shear stress, entrainment parameters, bed slope, and sediment settling velocity. In addition, the suspended sediment load is analytically estimated from the model developed.

Automated summary

Wave- and current-supported turbidity currents (WCSTCs) are important sediment delivery mechanisms in the global cycles of particulate matter. This study investigates the critical conditions for the transformation of WCSTCs into self-driven turbidity currents and highlights the role of density stratification and sediment entrainment in the dynamics of WCSTCs. A depth-integrated advection model is developed and validated, providing insights into the regulation of suspended sediment load and the development of self-driven turbidity currents. The study also presents a quantitative relation for the critical conditions and analytically estimates the suspended sediment load.