Gravity currents from a constant inflow on unbounded uniform slopes

Abstract

In this study we conducted laboratory experiments to examine the gravity currents produced from a constant inflow propagating on unbounded uniform slopes in the range 0∘≤θ≤15∘. In the experiments, the inlet Reynolds number and the slope angle were varied systematically. The study carried out dimensional analysis and quantified five dimensionless parameters, thereby characterizing the development of gravity currents. Top-view images shown in the experiments exhibited gravity currents in an elongated shape when propagating on steeper slopes larger than 6∘ but a round shape on milder slopes less than 3∘. The study finds that the five dimensionless parameters, which are functions of the slope angle, have near constant values for sufficiently large inlet Reynolds number, suggesting that the flow is approaching the regime of Reynolds number independence. The results from our experiments are expected to be applicable to gravity currents produced from a constant inflow on unbounded uniform slopes in larger scale natural or man-made environments.