Dr Jaco Baas
Reader in Ocean Sciences

Contact info
Position: Reader
Room: 305 Craig Mair
Phone: 01248 382894
E-mail: j.baas@bangor.ac.uk
Web: Google Scholar, ResearchGate
I am Reader in Fine Particle Dynamics in the School of Ocean Sciences, and specialise in the erosion, transport, and deposition of fine, cohesive sediment. I graduated from the University of Utrecht (the Netherlands) with a combined BSc/MSc in Sedimentary Geology in 1988. At the same university, I completed my PhD in Bedform Dynamics in 1993. Subsequently, I was Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Geomar Research Centre in Kiel, Germany (studying Late-Pleistocene climate signals in slope sediments from the North-Atlantic continental margin), at the University of Rouen, France (on resuspension processes in the Seine estuary and gravel mining in the English Channel), and at the University of Bergen, Norway (investigating grain orientations in turbidite deposits).
In 1998, I moved to the School of Earth and Environment at the University of Leeds, where I started as a Marie Curie Research Fellow and then became a Senior Research Fellow. My research in Leeds included the physical properties of particulate density currents and their deposits and the dynamics of turbulence-modulated flows carrying cohesive clay particles. I took up my present post in Bangor in January 2007.
I am a process sedimentologist with more than 25 years of experience in sediment transport in fluvial, shallow marine, and deep-marine environments. My main fundamental and applied research interests include physical and biological cohesion in fine-grained sediment, the dynamics of sedimentary bedforms, and sediment gravity flows in the deep ocean, but my expertise also stretches to hydraulic engineering, palaeoclimatology, and mathematical modelling. I combine experimental research with field work to answer timely research questions, taking a blue-skies approach as well as collaborating with industry.
Research Area
- Published
The Deep-Water Architecture Knowledge Base: Towards objective comparison of deep-marine sedimentary systems.
Baas, J. H., McCaffrey, W. D. & Knipe, R. J., 1 Nov 2005, In: Petroleum Geoscience. 11, 4, p. 309-320Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Flow dynamics and depositional properties of cohesive mixed sand-mud currents with transient turbulent behaviour.
Baas, J. H., Best, J. L., Peakall, J., McCaffrey, B. & Wang, M., 1 Jan 2006.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
- Published
Submarine Mass Movements and their Consequences, by J. Locat, & J. Mienert
Baas, J. H. & Strachan, L., 1 May 2005, Unknown.Research output: Other contribution
- Published
On the flow of natural clay suspensions over smooth and rough beds.
Baas, J. H. & Best, J. L., 1 Jan 2008.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
- Published
Looking inside turbidity currents: the effects of spatial and temporal changes in velocity, concentration and grain size on depositional properties.
Baas, J. H., McCaffrey, W. D., Choux, C. & Haughton, P. D., 1 Jan 2003.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
- Published
Clay-laden currents: transition between turbulent and laminar flow and implications for the genesis of massive sand beds.
Baas, J. H. & Best, J. L., 1 Jan 2000.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
- Published
Turbulence modulation in clay-laden flows over ripples and dunes.
Baas, J. H. & Best, J. L., 1 Jan 2005.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
- Published
Predicting bedforms and primary current stratification in cohesive mixtures of mud and sand
Baas, J. H., Best, J. L. & Peakall, J., Jan 2016, In: Journal of the Geological Society. 173, 1, p. 12-45Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Directional petrological characterisation of deep-marine sandstones using grain fabric and permeability anisotropy: methodologies, theory, application and suggestions for integration.
Baas, J. H., Hailwood, E. A., McCaffrey, W. D., Kay, M. & Jones, R., 1 May 2007, In: Earth Science Reviews. 82, 1-2, p. 101-142Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Can sedimentological flows with small amounts of clay particles form massive sandstone beds?
Baas, J. H. & Best, J. L., 1 Jan 2001.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
- Published
Ripple, Ripple Mark, Ripple Structure.
Baas, J. H. & Middleton, G. V. (Editor), 1 Jan 2003, Encyclopedia of Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks. 2003 ed. Kluwer Academic Publishers, p. 565-567Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
- Published
Can vertical stacking of low-angle bedforms produce rhythmic bedding in slurry flow deposits?
Baas, J. H., Best, J. L. & Peakall, J., 1 Jan 2007.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
- Published
Turbulence modulation in clay-rich sediment-laden flows and some implications for sediment deposition.
Baas, J. H. & Best, J. L., 1 Jan 2002, In: Journal of Sedimentary Research. 72, 3, p. 336-340Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Earth Science Editorial.
Baas, J. H., 1 Jul 2002, In: Annals of the Marie Curie Fellowships. 2, p. 34Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Bedform development in mixed sand–mud: The contrasting role of cohesive forces in flow and bed
Baas, J. H., Davies, A. G. & Malarkey, J., 15 Jan 2013, In: Geomorphology. 182, p. 19-32Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Flume analogue of geometry, structure and texture of high-density turbidity current deposits at the mouth of deep-marine channels.
Baas, J. H. & Postma, G., 1 Jan 2002.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
- Published
Duration of deposition from decelerating high-density turbidity currents.
Baas, J. H., Van Dam, R. L. & Storms, J. E., 1 Oct 2000, In: Sedimentary Geology. 136, 1-2, p. 71-88Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Conditions for formation of massive turbiditic sandstones by primary depositional processes.
Baas, J. H., 1 Apr 2004, In: Sedimentary Geology. 166, 3-4, p. 292-310Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
An experimental model for turbulence modulation in natural clay-laden flows over flat beds, ripples and dunes.
Baas, J. H., Best, J. L. & Kellman, P., 1 Jan 2006.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
- Published
Can vertical stacking of low-angle bedforms produce rhythmic bedding in slurry flow deposits.
Baas, J. H., Best, J. L. & Peakall, J., 1 Jan 2006.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
- Published
Turbulence modulation behind ripples and dunes in clay-laden currents.
Baas, J. H. & Best, J. L., 1 Jan 2004.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
- Published
When is a clay-laden current turbulent, transitional or laminar? A new stability diagram based on flow dynamics and clay concentration.
Baas, J. H., Best, J. L., Peakall, J. & Wang, M., 1 Jan 2005.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
- Published
Bedform development below transient turbulent, partly cohesive open-channel flows.
Baas, J. H., Best, J. L. & Kellman, P., 1 Jan 2007.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
- Published
Fine Sediment Dynamics in the Marine Environment, by J.C. Winterwerp & C. Kranenberg
Baas, J. H. & Felix, M., 1 Jan 2003, Unknown.Research output: Other contribution
- Published
The river-estuarine transition zone (RETZ) of the Afon Dyfi (West Wales) as test bed for sediment transfer between river catchments and coastal environments.
Baas, J. H., Jago, C. F., Macklin, M. & CCCR Team, 1 Jan 2008.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
- Published
Physical Processes in Earth and Environmental Sciences, by M. Leeder & M. Pérez-Arlucea
Baas, J. H., 1 Sept 2006, Unknown.Research output: Other contribution
- Published
A phase diagram for turbulent, transitional and laminar clay suspension flows.
Baas, J. H., Best, J. L., Peakall, J. & Wang, M., 1 Mar 2009, In: Journal of Sedimentary Research. 79, 3-4, p. 162-183Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Sand Deposition from High-Density Turbidity Currents: Implications for the Emplacement Mode, Internal Structure, Texture and Geometry of Deep-Water Massive Sandstone Beds.
Baas, J. H., 1 Jan 2001, 2001 ed. Unknown.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report
- Published
Muddy Coasts of the World: Processes, Deposits and Function, by T. Healy, Y. Wang & J.-A. Healy
Baas, J. H., 1 Jan 2003, Unknown.Research output: Other contribution
- Published
Ripple formation induced by biogenic mounds – Comment
Baas, J. H. & Best, J. L., 15 Aug 2000, In: Marine Geology. 168, 1-4, p. 145-151Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Experimental model for turbulence modulation in natural clay-laden flows.
Baas, J. H., Best, J. L., Peakall, J. & Wang, M., 1 Jan 2006.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
- Published
Earth Science Editorial.
Baas, J. H., 1 Feb 2004, In: Annals of the Marie Curie Fellowships. 3, p. 42Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Wave ripples in mixtures of cohesive clay and cohesionless sand: Preliminary results
Baas, J. H., Westlake, A., Eggenhuisen, J., Amoudry, L., Cartigny, M., Coultish, N., McLelland, S., Mouazé, D., Murphy, B., Parsons, D., Rosewell, K., Ruessink, G., Schrijvershof, R., Wu, X. & Ye, L., 1 Jul 2014.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
- Published
Processes and products of turbidity currents entering soft muddy substrates
Baas, J. H., Manica, R., Puhl, E., Verhagen, I. & de O.Borges, A. L., May 2014, In: Geology. 42, 5, p. 371-374Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Turbulence modulation in high-concentration clay-rich flows and the possible origin of “massive” sand beds.
Baas, J. H. & Best, J. L., 1 Jan 2000, p. 6-7.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
- Published
Introduction to the Physics of Cohesive Sediment Dynamics in the Marine Environment, by J.C.Winterwerp & C. Van Kesteren
Baas, J. H., 1 Sept 2005, Unknown.Research output: Other contribution
- Published
Coupling between suspended sediment distribution and turbulence structure in a laboratory turbidity current.
Baas, J. H., McCaffrey, W. D., Haughton, P. D. & Choux, C., 1 Jan 2005, In: Journal of Geophysical Research - Oceans. 110, c11, p. C11015Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
The Deep-Water Architecture Knowledge Base: Towards objective comparison of deep-marine sedimentary systems.
Baas, J. H. & McCaffrey, W. D., 1 Jan 2006.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
- Published
Depositional processes, bedform development and hybrid bed formation in rapidly decelerated cohesive (mud–sand) sediment flows
Baas, J. H., Best, J. L. & Peakall, J., 1 Dec 2011, In: Sedimentology. 58, 7, p. 1953-1987Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Textural characteristics of deep-marine massive sandstones: distinguishing between deposits of turbiditic and debris flow origin.
Baas, J. H., Nemec, W. & Ravnas, R., 1 Jan 2000.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
- Published
Handbook of Clay Science, by F. Bergaya, B.K.G. Theng & G. Lagaly - Book Review
Baas, J. H., 1 Mar 2007, Unknown.Research output: Other contribution
- Published
The dynamics of turbulent, transitional and laminar clay-laden flow over a fixed current ripple.
Baas, J. H. & Best, J. L., 1 Jun 2008, In: Sedimentology. 55, 3, p. 635-66Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Turbulence modulation in clay-rich flows: Implications for depositional process and bed form geometry.
Baas, J. H. & Best, J. L., 1 Jan 2005.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
- Published
Turbulence-modulated clay-laden flow over flat beds, ripple and dunes.
Baas, J. H. & Best, J. L., 1 Jan 2005.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
- Published
Grain fabric control on directional permeability in deep-marine sandstones.
Baas, J. H., McCaffrey, W. D., Hailwood, E. & Kay, M., 1 Jan 2006.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
- Published
Deposits of depletive high-density turbidity currents: a flume analogue of bed geometry, structure and texture.
Baas, J. H., Van Kesteren, W. & Postma, G., 1 Oct 2004, In: Sedimentology. 51, 5, p. 1053-1088Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Experimental turbidity current transport and deposition using scaled realistic bathymetry.
Baas, J. H., McCaffrey, W. D., Pattaci, M. & Wyton, J., 1 Jan 2006.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
- Published
Experimental Research on Hydraulics and Depositional Mechanisms of High-Density Turbidity Currents.
Baas, J. H., 1 Jan 2000, 2000 ed. Unknown.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report
- Published
EZ-ROSE: a computer program for equal-area circular histograms and statistical analysis of two-dimensional vectorial data.
Baas, J. H., 1 Mar 2000, In: Computers and Geosciences. 26, 2, p. 153-166Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Sediment gravity flows: Recent advances in process and field analysis – Introduction
Baas, J. H., 1 Aug 2005, In: Sedimentary Geology. 179, 1-2, p. 1-3Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review