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The Caltech Earth Surface Dynamics
Laboratory is a 4000 sq. ft. high-bay space designed to facilitate physical
experiments and models to study the processes that erode, transport, and
deposit sediment on the surface of the Earth and other planets. The
lab is located on the main Caltech campus, a short walk from the GPS Division. It includes a
state-of-the-art tilting flume (below) to investigate fluvial
bedrock erosion, sediment transport in rivers, and initiation of debris
flows. The lab also includes a 3-D river basin for research into
delta formation, river meandering, and alluvial fan evolution and stratigraphy.
Please see our
Research and
Movies for examples of past experimental
research.
Picture of the new 15 meter long tilting flume
Picture of the new 7 meter long turbidity current flume
Picture of the new 5 meter long tilting flume
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Construction Photos of the New Lab
Space
Flume Lab January, 2008. Before Construction
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December 2009. Sump Excavated. |
February 2010. Sump walls formed.
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February 18th, 2010. The great lab wall erected. |
 February 25th, 2010. Concrete floor finished.
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March 19th, 2010. Painted and wired. |
June 20th, 2010. Benches, cabinets, new small flume, and lab
manager. |
October 28th, 2010. New small tilting flume installed and
running! |
December 6th, 2010. Pumps installed for new tilting flume.
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December 8th, 2010. Moving new tilting flume into lab. |
December 8th, 2010. Placing tilting flume on its pivot.
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December 12th, 2010. End tank installed. |
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