Gravity Currents: In the Environment and the Laboratory

by John E. Simpson

• ISBN13: 9780521664011
• ISBN10: 0521664012
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-11-13
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

This book comprehensively describes all aspects of gravity flow, a physical process in the environment that is covered by many disciplines including meteorology, oceanography, the earth sciences and industrial processes. The first edition was very well received, and the author has brought the new edition completely up to date, with much new material. Simpson describes gravity currents with a variety of laboratory experiments, many from his own work. Gravity Currents is a valuable supplementary textbook for undergraduates and a reference work for research workers. The general reader will also find much of interest, since the author clearly describes the physics of flows involved without advanced mathematics, and with numerous photographs and illustrations.

Table of Contents

Foreword Steve Thorpe

Preface

1. The nature of gravity currents

2. Atmospheric gravity currents

3. Sea-breeze fronts

4. Gravity currents in satellite imagery

5. Fronts and topography

6. Environmental problems: atmosphere

7. Gravity currents in rivers, lakes and the ocean

8. Industrial problems with gravity currents: oceanography

9. Avalanches

10. Volcanic gravity currents

11. The anatomy of a gravity current

12. Spread of dense fluid

13. Ambient stratification

14. Ambient turbulence

15. Viscous gravity currents

16. Suspension flows

17. Gravity currents on a rotating earth

18. Numerical models of gravity currents

Index.