Scaling properties of gravity-driven sediments
Recent field observations of the statistical distribution of turbidite and debris flow deposits are discussed. In some cases one finds a good fit over 1.5-2 orders of magnitude to the scaling law <i>N(h)</i> α <i>h<sup>-B</sup></i>, where <i>N(h)</i> i...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
1995-01-01
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| Series: | Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics |
| Online Access: | http://www.nonlin-processes-geophys.net/2/178/1995/npg-2-178-1995.pdf |
| _version_ | 1817983072327434240 |
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| author | D. H. Rothman J. P. Grotzinger |
| author_facet | D. H. Rothman J. P. Grotzinger |
| author_sort | D. H. Rothman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Recent field observations of the statistical distribution of turbidite and debris flow deposits are discussed. In some cases one finds a good fit over 1.5-2 orders of magnitude to the scaling law <i>N(h)</i> α <i>h<sup>-B</sup></i>, where <i>N(h)</i> is the number of layers thicker than <i>h</i>. Observations show that the scaling exponent <i> B</i> varies widely from deposit to deposit, ranging from about 1/2 to 2. Moreover, one case is characterized by a sharp crossover in which <i> B</i> increases by a factor of two as <i> h</i> increases past a critical thickness. We propose that the variations in <i>B</i>, either regional or within the same deposit, are indicative of the geometry of the sedimentary basin and the rheological properties of the original gravity-driven flow. The origin of the power-law distribution remains an open question. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T23:29:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a3c148a6f1564024bc4ef6e9cc9f8afb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1023-5809 1607-7946 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T23:29:09Z |
| publishDate | 1995-01-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics |
| spelling | doaj.art-a3c148a6f1564024bc4ef6e9cc9f8afb2022-12-22T02:24:58ZengCopernicus PublicationsNonlinear Processes in Geophysics1023-58091607-79461995-01-0123/4178185Scaling properties of gravity-driven sedimentsD. H. RothmanJ. P. GrotzingerRecent field observations of the statistical distribution of turbidite and debris flow deposits are discussed. In some cases one finds a good fit over 1.5-2 orders of magnitude to the scaling law <i>N(h)</i> α <i>h<sup>-B</sup></i>, where <i>N(h)</i> is the number of layers thicker than <i>h</i>. Observations show that the scaling exponent <i> B</i> varies widely from deposit to deposit, ranging from about 1/2 to 2. Moreover, one case is characterized by a sharp crossover in which <i> B</i> increases by a factor of two as <i> h</i> increases past a critical thickness. We propose that the variations in <i>B</i>, either regional or within the same deposit, are indicative of the geometry of the sedimentary basin and the rheological properties of the original gravity-driven flow. The origin of the power-law distribution remains an open question.http://www.nonlin-processes-geophys.net/2/178/1995/npg-2-178-1995.pdf |
| spellingShingle | D. H. Rothman J. P. Grotzinger Scaling properties of gravity-driven sediments Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics |
| title | Scaling properties of gravity-driven sediments |
| title_full | Scaling properties of gravity-driven sediments |
| title_fullStr | Scaling properties of gravity-driven sediments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Scaling properties of gravity-driven sediments |
| title_short | Scaling properties of gravity-driven sediments |
| title_sort | scaling properties of gravity driven sediments |
| url | http://www.nonlin-processes-geophys.net/2/178/1995/npg-2-178-1995.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dhrothman scalingpropertiesofgravitydrivensediments AT jpgrotzinger scalingpropertiesofgravitydrivensediments |