![Top curves](../../../../jsp/jahia/templates/GSL/gsl_templates/img/keystage3/main_top_grad.gif)
How do turbidity currents work?
This short video shows a simple density flow demonstrated using a plastic aquarium and a slurry of builders’ plaster. It is easily reproduced in the laboratory.
Note: Builders’ plaster sets hard – best to clean up asap! Clay can be used but will cloud the water and obscure subsequent flows.
This demonstration illustrates two important geological processes: turbidity currents on the sea floor, and pyroclastic flows from volcanoes. Both processes rely on the fact that a mixture of solid particles (sediment or volcanic ash) and a fluid (water or volcanic gases) will form a flow capable of moving down slopes at high speeds.
Note: Builders’ plaster sets hard – best to clean up asap! Clay can be used but will cloud the water and obscure subsequent flows.
This demonstration illustrates two important geological processes: turbidity currents on the sea floor, and pyroclastic flows from volcanoes. Both processes rely on the fact that a mixture of solid particles (sediment or volcanic ash) and a fluid (water or volcanic gases) will form a flow capable of moving down slopes at high speeds.
![Turbidity current breaking transatlantic telephone cables](../../../../webdav/site/GSL/shared/images/education_and_careers/RockCycle/TeachersZone/turbidity.jpg)
We now know that these currents transport massive quantities of sediment to the deep ocean and form very characteristic “turbidite” (or Bouma) sediment sequences.
![Bottom curves](../../../../jsp/jahia/templates/GSL/gsl_templates/img/keystage3/bottom_curve.gif)