Scientists have known for decades that massive undersea flows called turbidity currents can reshape ocean floors and damage the vital cables that carry the world’s internet traffic. But an understanding of how they form and behave has remained elusive until now. An international team led by Tsinghua University has found that these flows are more common than previously believed, forming in gentle environments such as reservoirs and lakes, where such currents were thought to be impossible. The...

Scientists have known for decades that massive undersea flows called turbidity currents can reshape ocean floors and damage the vital cables that carry the world’s internet traffic. But an understanding of how they form and behave has remained elusive until now. An international team led by Tsinghua University has found that these flows are more common than previously believed, forming in gentle environments such as reservoirs and lakes, where such currents were thought to be impossible. The...