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Oceanography of the Ross Sea Antarctica pp 223–232Cite as

General Characteristics of Density-Turbidity Currents in the Ross Sea (Antarctica)

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Abstract

To investigate thermodynamic currents in Antarctica, we here discuss quasi-steady density currents flowing over a regular slope and their hydrodynamic stability, considering also bottom erosion phenomena: in other words, the current is assumed to exchange sediments with the bottom. To simplify this complex problem a model of sediment evolution is assumed. As in recent work the excess mass due to the bottom erosion and deposition is assumed to depend only on the current stress on the bottom. A nonlinear equation considering both the time and space variability of these “density-turbidity” currents for a two-layer model is obtained and a novel criterion to identify the “ignition” point of these density-turbidity currents is discussed. In Polar Oceans these interactions can play a fundamental role in the generation of new water masses, as a result of violent hydrodynamic instability concerning the downslope motion of dense shelf water along submarine canyons.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Fisica, Università “La Sapienza”, Piazzale A. Moro 2, 00185, Rome, Italy

    S. Gremes Cordero

  2. INFN, Dipartimento di Fisica, Università “La Sapienza”, Piazzale A. Moro 2, 00185, Rome, Italy

    E. Salusti

Authors
  1. S. Gremes Cordero
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  2. E. Salusti
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Meteorology and Oceanography, IUN, Via Amm. Acton, 38, 80133, Napoli, Italy

    Giancarlo Spezie

  2. Marine Environment Research Centre, ENEA, Loc. Pozzuolo, Forte S. Teresa, 19036, S. Terenzo(La Spezia), Italy

    Giuseppe M. R. Manzella

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© 1999 Springer-Verlag Italia, Milano

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Gremes Cordero, S., Salusti, E. (1999). General Characteristics of Density-Turbidity Currents in the Ross Sea (Antarctica). In: Spezie, G., Manzella, G.M.R. (eds) Oceanography of the Ross Sea Antarctica . Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2250-8_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2250-8_15

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Milano

  • Print ISBN: 978-88-470-2252-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-88-470-2250-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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