Self-accelerated turbidity current prediction based upon (k-ɛ) turbulence

Abstract One-equation and ( k-ɛ ) turbulence models with Boussinesq viscosity and algebraic stress closures are applied to predict the vertical structure of turbidity currents. Flow-bottom interactions are taken into account through boundary conditions. Many features of such a flow are associated with weak scientific basis. A “simple” one is the turbulence near a stably stratified mean velocity maximum. Only when the density flux term is significantly smaller than the turbulent dissipation is a non-reasonable kinetic energy minimum avoided. However, even with fundamental uncertainties, some aspects of model predictions appear to be plausible and realistic. If small size sediments are available on a slope, self-generated turbidity currents are judged to be possible even at slope angles as small as a few degrees. This is consistent with experimental evidence.