Direct observation of intense turbidity current activity in the Zaire submarine valley at 4000 m water depth
✍ Scribed by Alexis Khripounoff; Annick Vangriesheim; Nathalie Babonneau; Philippe Crassous; Bernard Dennielou; Bruno Savoye
- Publisher
- Elsevier Science
- Year
- 2003
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 448 KB
- Volume
- 194
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0025-3227
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✦ Synopsis
A large turbidity current was detected in the Zaire submarine valley at 4000 m water depth. Current meters, turbidimeter and sediment trap deployed on a mooring located in the channel axis, although they were damaged, recorded the signature of a very high energy event. An average velocity of more than 121 cm s 31 was measured 150 m above the channel floor. Coarse sand and plant debris were collected at 40 m height. The turbidity current clearly overflowed the edges of the valley as demonstrated by the large quantity of turbiditic material (464 mg organic carbon m 32 d 31 ) found in the sediment trap moored 13 km south from the channel axis.