Hammer Talks are a regular lunch seminar on all things geology at the Department of Geosciences. Join in person or online via Zoom – and bring your lunch, coffee, etc.!
- Time and place: 20th March 2025, 12:15 – 13:00; Undergrunne (U16), Geologibygningen
- Speaker: Aniëla Parlevliet (Utrecht University / Basins section, Geo UiO)
- Title: Go with the flow - documenting turbidity flow structure in autogenically controlled experiments
- Zoom: Zoom meeting link | Download the Zoom Client for Meetings
Abstract: Stratigraphic analysis relies on the assumption that external (allogenic) signals are preserved within strata and can be identified by examining simple characteristics such as trends and patterns in bed thickness. However, similar patterns can emerge from internal (autogenic) system dynamics. In order to distinguish autogenic from allogenic signals, we must first understand how the system responds to autogenic processes only, before we can assess how allogenic signals modify this response. While this research question applies to all sedimentary systems, few studies have investigated deep-water systems, and none have examined the morphodynamic evolution of turbidity currents during submarine fan formation. To address this gap, we conducted experiments showing the 3D flow structure of successive turbidity currents under constant boundary conditions. These experiments were performed in the Eurotank, a large flume tank at Utrecht University, designed to study sedimentary systems of larger scales. Flow velocity was measured using 3D Ultrasonic Doppler Velocimetry (UDV), which is a method that enables the simultaneous measurement of three velocity components along a line. Our study revealed three key insights: (1) during lobe avulsion, the high-velocity core of the turbidity current avulses, rather than the current as a whole; (2) morphodynamic evolution transforms the initial jet-like flow into a laterally expanding flow, ultimately leading to back-stepping (3) morphodynamic changes within the channel can control the self-organisational style of the resulting lobe complex.
About Hammer Talks
For the past few years, Hammer Talks have been a regular geology lunch seminar arranged by the Basins section. We now want to expand them into a meeting platform for all geology-interested staff at the Department of Geosciences. The idea is to have regular informal interaction across the different sections/groups in order to spark scientific discussion and collaboration.
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Contact:
Organizer 2024-25: Torsten Hundebøl Hansen (contact details)