The, statistically-Unsteady, Next Generation Sediment Transport model for ENvironmental flows

Linear dynamics in turbulent stratified plane Poiseuille flow (2024)
Journal Article
Lloyd, C. J., & Dorrell, R. M. (2024). Linear dynamics in turbulent stratified plane Poiseuille flow. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 999, Article A104. https://doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2024.1000

We investigate a turbulent stratified plane Poiseuille flow using linear models and nonlinear simulations. We propose the first complete explanation for the prolific and coherent backward (BWs)-and forward-propagating waves (FWs), which have been obs... Read More about Linear dynamics in turbulent stratified plane Poiseuille flow.

Modeling the Tilt of Bend-Traversing Turbidity Currents: Implications for Sinuous Submarine Channel Development (2024)
Journal Article
Crisóstomo-Figueroa, A., Dorrell, R. M., Amy, L., McArthur, A. D., & McCaffrey, W. D. (2024). Modeling the Tilt of Bend-Traversing Turbidity Currents: Implications for Sinuous Submarine Channel Development. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 129(10), Article e2023JC020131. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JC020131

The controls on the development of submarine channel sinuosity are contested: slope gradient and Coriolis forcing have both been recognized as key governing factors: gradient via an inverse relationship (low sinuosity at high slope and vice versa), a... Read More about Modeling the Tilt of Bend-Traversing Turbidity Currents: Implications for Sinuous Submarine Channel Development.

Circulation of hydraulically ponded turbidity currents and the filling of continental slope minibasins (2024)
Journal Article
Reece, J. K., Dorrell, R. M., & Straub, K. M. (2024). Circulation of hydraulically ponded turbidity currents and the filling of continental slope minibasins. Nature communications, 15(1), Article 2075. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-46120-2

Natural depressions on continental margins termed minibasins trap turbidity currents, a class of sediment-laden seafloor density driven flow. These currents are the primary downslope vectors for clastic sediment, particulate organic carbon, and micro... Read More about Circulation of hydraulically ponded turbidity currents and the filling of continental slope minibasins.

Benthic biology influences sedimentation in submarine channel bends: Coupling of biology, sedimentation and flow (2024)
Journal Article
Azpiroz-Zabala, M., Sumner, E. J., Cartigny, M. J., Peakall, J., Clare, M. A., Darby, S. E., Parsons, D. R., Dorrell, R. M., Özsoy, E., Tezcan, D., Wynn, R. B., & Johnson, J. (2024). Benthic biology influences sedimentation in submarine channel bends: Coupling of biology, sedimentation and flow. The Depositional Record, https://doi.org/10.1002/dep2.265

Submarine channels are key features for the transport of flow and nutrients into deep water. Previous studies of their morphology and channel evolution have treated these systems as abiotic, and therefore assume that physical processes are solely res... Read More about Benthic biology influences sedimentation in submarine channel bends: Coupling of biology, sedimentation and flow.

Streamwise Turbulence Modulation in Non-Uniform Open-Channel Clay Suspension Flows (2023)
Journal Article
de Vet, M. G., Fernández, R., Baas, J. H., McCaffrey, W. D., & Dorrell, R. M. (2023). Streamwise Turbulence Modulation in Non-Uniform Open-Channel Clay Suspension Flows. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, 128(8), Article e2022JF006781. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JF006781

Cohesive sediment particles are ubiquitous in environmental flows. The cohesive properties of clay promote the formation of clay flocs and gels and relatively small suspended clay concentrations can enhance or suppress turbulence in a flow. Furthermo... Read More about Streamwise Turbulence Modulation in Non-Uniform Open-Channel Clay Suspension Flows.

Inadequacy of fluvial energetics for describing gravity current autosuspension (2023)
Journal Article
Fukuda, S., de Vet, M. G., Skevington, E. W., Bastianon, E., Fernández, R., Wu, X., McCaffrey, W. D., Naruse, H., Parsons, D. R., & Dorrell, R. M. (2023). Inadequacy of fluvial energetics for describing gravity current autosuspension. Nature communications, 14(1), Article 2288. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-37724-1

Gravity currents, such as sediment-laden turbidity currents, are ubiquitous natural flows that are driven by a density difference. Turbidity currents have provided vital motivation to advance understanding of this class of flows because their enigmat... Read More about Inadequacy of fluvial energetics for describing gravity current autosuspension.

On the role of transverse motion in pseudo-steady gravity currents (2023)
Journal Article
Marshall, C. R., Dorrell, R. M., Keevil, G. M., Peakall, J., & Tobias, S. M. (2023). On the role of transverse motion in pseudo-steady gravity currents. Experiments in Fluids, 64(3), Article 63. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-023-03599-7

Flow in the body of gravity currents is typically assumed to be statistically two-dimensional, and cross-stream flow is often neglected (Simpson 1997; Meiburg et al. 2015). Here, we assess the validity of such assumptions using Shake-the-Box particle... Read More about On the role of transverse motion in pseudo-steady gravity currents.

Effect of hydro-climate variation on biofilm dynamics and its impact in intertidal environments (2022)
Journal Article
Bastianon, E., Hope, J. A., Dorrell, R. M., & Parsons, D. R. (2022). Effect of hydro-climate variation on biofilm dynamics and its impact in intertidal environments. Earth surface dynamics European Geosciences Union, 10(6), 1115-1140. https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-1115-2022

Shallow tidal environments are very productive ecosystems but are sensitive to environmental changes and sea level rise. Bio-morphodynamic control of these environments is therefore a crucial consideration; however, the effect of small-scale biologic... Read More about Effect of hydro-climate variation on biofilm dynamics and its impact in intertidal environments.

Graphics processing unit accelerated lattice Boltzmann method simulations of dilute gravity currents (2022)
Journal Article
Adekanye, D., Khan, A., Burns, A., McCaffrey, W., Geier, M., Schönherr, M., & Dorrell, R. (2022). Graphics processing unit accelerated lattice Boltzmann method simulations of dilute gravity currents. Physics of Fluids, 34(4), Article 046602. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0082959

Lattice Boltzmann method models offer a novel framework for the simulation of high Reynolds number dilute gravity currents. The numerical algorithm is well suited to acceleration via implementation on massively parallel computer architectures. Here,... Read More about Graphics processing unit accelerated lattice Boltzmann method simulations of dilute gravity currents.

Anthropogenic Mixing in Seasonally Stratified Shelf Seas by Offshore Wind Farm Infrastructure (2022)
Journal Article
Dorrell, R. M., Lloyd, C. J., Lincoln, B. J., Rippeth, T. P., Taylor, J. R., Caulfield, C. C. P., Sharples, J., Polton, J. A., Scannell, B. D., Greaves, D. M., Hall, R. A., & Simpson, J. H. (2022). Anthropogenic Mixing in Seasonally Stratified Shelf Seas by Offshore Wind Farm Infrastructure. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9, Article 830927. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.830927

The offshore wind energy sector has rapidly expanded over the past two decades, providing a renewable energy solution for coastal nations. Sector development has been led in Europe, but is growing globally. Most developments to date have been in well... Read More about Anthropogenic Mixing in Seasonally Stratified Shelf Seas by Offshore Wind Farm Infrastructure.