
How do turbidity currents work?
This short video shows a simple density flow demonstrated using a plastic aquarium and a slurry of builders’ plaster. It is easily reproduced in the laboratory.
Note: Builders’ plaster sets hard – best to clean up asap! Clay can be used but will cloud the water and obscure subsequent flows.
This demonstration illustrates two important geological processes: turbidity currents on the sea floor, and pyroclastic flows from volcanoes. Both processes rely on the fact that a mixture of solid particles (sediment or volcanic ash) and a fluid (water or volcanic gases) will form a flow capable of moving down slopes at high speeds.
Note: Builders’ plaster sets hard – best to clean up asap! Clay can be used but will cloud the water and obscure subsequent flows.
This demonstration illustrates two important geological processes: turbidity currents on the sea floor, and pyroclastic flows from volcanoes. Both processes rely on the fact that a mixture of solid particles (sediment or volcanic ash) and a fluid (water or volcanic gases) will form a flow capable of moving down slopes at high speeds.

We now know that these currents transport massive quantities of sediment to the deep ocean and form very characteristic “turbidite” (or Bouma) sediment sequences.
