A lecture supported in part by the Threet endowment

Sediment dynamics of fluvial trubidity currents - Lillooet Lake, Canada

Ray Kostaschuk
University of Guelph

Abstract:

Much of our understanding of the flow and sediment dynamics of turbidity currents relies on laboratory experiments and numerical models due to difficulties in obtaining direct field measurements. Recent work in Lillooet Lake by Best et al. (2005: Geology, 33, 765-768), however, provided the first acoustic Doppler current profiler measurements of velocity in natural turbidity currents. Their research showed that although Lillooet River provides a continuous supply of water and sediment to these density currents, they are characterized by distinct velocity pulsing. The research presented here extends that of Best et al. by using an acoustic Doppler velocimeter and a laser in situ sediment scattering transmissometer to provide high-resolution point measurements of three-dimensional velocity and suspended sediment concentration and size.