The Sands of Time: Understanding the Roles and Effects of Turbidity Flow Velocity on Grain Size and Grain Alignment Within Recent and Ancient Turbidite Deposits

Author

Jessica Lamarca, Ursinus CollegeFollow

Submission Date

7-22-2021

Document Type

Paper- Restricted to Campus Access

Department

Environmental Studies

Faculty Mentor

Leah Joseph

Second Faculty Mentor

Tristan Ashcroft

Comments

Funding was provided by Ursinus College/Summer Fellows and the ENV Department. This research used samples and/or data provided by the Ocean Drilling Program (ODP). ODP is sponsored by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and participating countries under management of Joint Oceanographic Institutions (JOI), Inc. Funding was provided by USSAP.

Presented during the 23rd Annual Summer Fellows Symposium, July 23, 2021 at Ursinus College.

Project Description

Paleoclimate research using ocean sediment offers much information about past ocean currents, helping us understand the Earth’s ever-changing climate. This study’s focus is to understand the effects that flow velocity has on the size and alignment of grains deposited by a concentrated downhill movement of sediment (turbidity current). Using grain size and alignment, we looked to find a correlation with the velocity of the turbidity current so that these characteristics may be utilized when other indicators of flow speed/direction are not available.

Recommended Citation

Lamarca, Jessica, "The Sands of Time: Understanding the Roles and Effects of Turbidity Flow Velocity on Grain Size and Grain Alignment Within Recent and Ancient Turbidite Deposits" (2021). Environment and Sustainability Summer Fellows. 10.
https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/environment_sum/10