Simulating the 1999 turbidity current occured in Capbreton canyon through a cellular automata model

A numerical model has been developed for the simulation of turbidity currents with several grain size fractions over a complex three dimensional submarine topography. The model is based on an alternative approach known as Cellular Automata paradigm. The model is validated by comparing a simulation with a reported fieldscale event. Choosen case is a turbidity current which occured in Capbreton Canyon and initiated by the December 1999 storm. Using data from recent oceanographic cruises, this event has been precisely described, which constrain values of model parameters. The model simulates the 1999 turbidity current over the actual canyon topography and related turbidite using three grain size fractions. Model well simulates areas of erosion and deposition in the canyon. It predicts the vertical and longitudinal grain size evolution. It shows that the fining-up sequence can be deposited by several phases of deposition and erosion, explaining the presence of intrabed