The potential role of sediment in oceanic slope convection is examined by m
eans of a rotational numerical model applied in a vertical ocean slice. The
model couples the hydrodynamics with transport, settling, deposition, and
resuspension of fine-grained silty muds. Sediment plumes (turbidity current
s), descending on an idealized continental slope with constant bottom slope
, are driven from an initial density anomaly caused by an assumed suspensio
n of sediment in shelf water. A number of case studies were conducted in or
der to understand the effects of (1) different suspended sediment concentra
tions in shelf water as compared to an equivalent salinity anomaly (salt br
ine release), (2) different oceanic density stratifications, and (3) resusp
ension of bed sediment. It is demonstrated that sediment plumes may account
for a downslope transport of water, which, once void of its sediment load,
becomes lighter than water above. Then, sedimentation along the slope, wit
h a maximum adjacent to the foot of the slope, drives vigorous upward conve
ction (parameterized in the model), stirring slope water over a depth range
of several hundred meters. This is in agreement with field observations fr
om a tropical ocean. Detrainment associated with sediment settling constitu
tes an important mechanism inherent in sediment plumes. It not only induces
upward convection but also prevents the rapid increase in plume thickness
caused by entrainment as compared to "water mass plumes." Owing to a balanc
e between entrainment and detrainment, the sediment plume, while descending
on the slope, attains constant height and bed shear velocities. In order t
o facilitate the detection of sediment plumes in (historical or future) fie
ld data, we describe their simulated traces in terms of water mass properti
es and flow anomalies.