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Evidence of sediment resuspension by island trapped waves
Author(s) -
Jordi Antoni,
Basterretxea Gotzon,
Wang DongPing
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2009gl040055
Subject(s) - oceanography , current (fluid) , biogeochemical cycle , acoustic doppler current profiler , sediment , forcing (mathematics) , geology , mediterranean sea , sediment transport , continental shelf , environmental science , atmospheric sciences , mediterranean climate , geomorphology , environmental chemistry , biology , ecology , chemistry
Six months of current and acoustic backscatter data from an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) moored in the shelf off Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Mediterranean Sea) were analyzed. The presence of island trapped waves (ITWs) was determined by correspondence of energetic subinertial peaks in the alongshore current spectra with theoretical wave modes. Although currents in this area averaged 0.06 m/s and rarely exceeded 0.5 m/s, an intense episode with currents larger than 1 m/s was observed between March 8 and 11, 2007. Our analysis demonstrates that ITWs generated by local wind forcing were responsible for such currents, causing significant sediment resuspension on those days. It is suggested that even moderate wind pulses can induce important resuspension along the shelf by generating ITWs. This could be an overlooked mechanism of coupling between atmospheric and shelf circulation with significant implications for sediment dynamics and biogeochemical cycles.