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

Sediment Dynamics and Morphology

  1. Chapter › Research › Not peer-reviewed
  2. Published

    Ripple, Ripple Mark, Ripple Structure.

    Baas, J. H. & Middleton, G. V. (ed.), 1 Jan 2003, Encyclopedia of Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks. 2003 ed. Kluwer Academic Publishers, p. 565-567

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

  3. Paper › Research › Not peer-reviewed
  4. 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 conferencePaper

  5. 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 conferencePaper

  6. Published

    Bedforms in high concentration flows – Preliminary results of laboratory experiments.

    Kellman, P., Best, J. L., Baas, J. H., Peakall, J. & Parsons, D., 1 Jan 2006.

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaper

  7. Published

    Behaviour of fully ponded turbidity currents in confined basins: An experimental study.

    Patacci, M., McCaffrey, W. M., Haughton, P., Baas, J. H. & Keevil, G., 1 Jan 2006.

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaper

  8. 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 conferencePaper

  9. 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 conferencePaper

  10. 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 conferencePaper

  11. Published

    Clast-rich debrite and slurry intervals sandwiched within co-genetic turbiditic sandstone: origin, lateral extent and baffle potential.

    Talling, P., Amy, L., McCaffrey, B., Baas, J. H., Peakall, J., Stanbrook, D., Clark, J., Wynn, R., Gee, M. & Masson, D., 1 Jan 2001.

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaper

  12. Published
  13. Published

    Comparing flume and computer simulated turbidite flows – Implications for sediment deposition patterns and reservoir quality.

    Bond, C. E., Baas, J. H., Vinnels, J., McCaffrey, W., Waltham, D. & McClean, S., 1 Jan 2008.

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaper

  14. Published
  15. Published

    Coupling flow and deposit properties of partly cohesive high-density turbidity currents: An experimental approach.

    Manica, R., Baas, J. H., Peakall, J., Maestri, R. D. & Borges, A. O., 1 Jan 2008.

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaper

  16. Published

    Critical parameters for cross-fault flow within deep marine clastic reservoirs: An integrated 3D stratigraphic and structural approach.

    Bradbury, P. W., Freeman, S. R., Harris, S. D., Knipe, R. J., McCaffrey, W. D. & Baas, J. H., 1 Jan 2004.

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaper

  17. Published

    Detection and quantification of suspended sediment concentration and stratification in open channel flows: development and first results using electrical resistance tomography.

    Schlaberg, H. I., Baas, J. H., Wang, M., Best, J. L., Williams, R. A. & Peakall, J., 5 Sept 2005.

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaper

  18. Published

    Detection and quantification of suspension concentrations and sedimentation layers in channel flows using electrical resistance tomography.

    Schlaberg, H. I., Baas, J. H., Wang, M., Best, J. L., Williams, R. A. & Peakall, J., 1 Jan 2005.

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaper

  19. Published

    Enhanced fault seal evaluation of turbidite systems in mature basins: Examples from around the globe.

    Bradbury, P. W., Freeman, S. R., Harris, S. D., Knipe, R. J., McCaffrey, W. D., Baas, J. H. & Lewis, G., 1 Jan 2005.

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaper

  20. 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 conferencePaper

  21. Published

    Experimental passive fill of U-shaped burrows.

    Kellman, P., Baas, J. H., Best, J. L. & Uchman, A., 1 Jan 2005.

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaper

  22. 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 conferencePaper

  23. Published

    Flow behaviour of ponded turbidity currents: an experimental study.

    Patacci, M., McCaffrey, W. M., Haughton, P., Baas, J. H. & Keevil, G., 1 Jan 2008.

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaper

  24. 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 conferencePaper

  25. Published
  26. 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 conferencePaper

  27. 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 conferencePaper

  28. Published

    Modelling rheological and turbulence regimes in kaolinite-rich sediment flows.

    Silva Jacinto, R. & Baas, J. H., 1 Jan 2007.

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaper

  29. Published

    Non-cohesive, mixed and cohesive high-density turbidity currents: Flow and deposit properties inferred from laboratory experiments.

    Manica, R., Baas, J. H., De Oliveira Borges, A. L., Maestri, R. D., Peakall, J. & McCaffrey, W. D., 1 Jan 2006.

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaper

  30. 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 conferencePaper

  31. Published

    Passive sediment filling of U-shaped animal burrows.

    Kellman, P., Baas, J. H., Best, J. L. & Uchman, A., 1 Jan 2004.

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaper

  32. Published

    Suspended and bedload dynamics in a tidally influenced river: the river Dyfi, Wales, UK.

    Brewer, P., Vericat, D., Baas, J. H., Jago, C. F., Brasington, J., Wheaton, J. M. & Causer, F., 1 Jan 2007.

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaper

  33. Published

    TDURE : A mathematical model for the duration of deposition from decelerating high-density turbidity currents.

    Baas, J. H., Van Dam, R. L. & Storms, J. E., 1 Jan 2000, p. 74-75.

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaper

  34. Published

    Temporal flow structure of an experimental particulate density current linked to textural variation of the resultant flume deposit.

    Barker, S., McCaffrey, B., Haughton, P., Baas, J. H. & Choux, C., 1 Jan 2004.

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaper

  35. Published
  36. 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 conferencePaper

  37. Published
  38. Published

    Turbulence modulation behind ripples and dunes in clay-laden currents.

    Baas, J. H. & Best, J. L., 1 Jan 2004.

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaper

  39. Published

    Turbulence modulation in clay-laden flows over ripples and dunes.

    Baas, J. H. & Best, J. L., 1 Jan 2005.

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaper

  40. 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 conferencePaper

  41. 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 conferencePaper

  42. 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 conferencePaper

  43. Published

    Visualizing the flow fields of sediment-laden density currents.

    Peakall, J., Best, J. L., Baas, J. H. & Al-Musallami, Z., 1 Jan 2000.

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaper

  44. 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 conferencePaper

  45. 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 conferencePaper

  46. Article › Research
  47. Published

    On the origin of chevron marks and striated grooves, and their use in predicting mud bed rheology

    McGowan, D., Salian, A., Baas, J., Peakall, J. & Best, J., Feb 2024, Sedimentology, 71, 2, p. 687-708 22 p.

    Research output: Contribution to specialist publicationArticle

  48. Other contribution › Research › Not peer-reviewed
  49. Published

    Confined Turbidite Systems, by S.A. Lomas & P. Joseph

    Baas, J. H., 1 Jan 2004, Unknown.

    Research output: Other contribution

  50. 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

  51. Published
  52. Published
  53. Published
  54. Published