Hydrodynamics of Turbid Underflows. II: Aggradation, Avulsion, and Channelization

Abstract

A two-dimensional, depth-averaged finite-volume model is used to study the hydrodynamics of turbid underflows. A sensitivity analysis is performed with regard to model input parameters and the initial bed properties. Simulations are then performed to illustrate aggradation and avulsion in an existing submarine channel. The conditions under which channelization of deposits occur are also examined. The effect of numerical dissipation on flow ignition is examined and the high resolution properties of the model are found to produce satisfactory results. The model is applied to historical field-scale events, including the Reserve Fan in Lake Superior and Rupert Inlet in British Columbia.