Wave transformation and wave-driven flow across a steep coral reef
Observations of waves, setup, and wave-driven mean flows were made on a steep coral forereef and its associated lagoonal system on the north shore of Moorea, French Polynesia. Despite the steep and complex geometry of the forereef, and wave amplitudes that are nearly equal to the mean water depth, linear wave theory showed very good agreement with data. Measurements across the reef illustrate the importance of including both wave transport (owing to Stokes drift), as well as the Eulerian mean transport when computing the fluxes over the reef. Finally, the observed setup closely follows the theoretical relationship derived from classic radiation stress theory, although the two parameters that appear in the model-one reflecting wave breaking, the other the effective depth over the reef crest-must be chosen to match theory to data. © 2013 American Meteorological Society.
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Related Subject Headings
- Oceanography
- 4015 Maritime engineering
- 3708 Oceanography
- 0911 Maritime Engineering
- 0405 Oceanography
Citation
Published In
DOI
EISSN
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Related Subject Headings
- Oceanography
- 4015 Maritime engineering
- 3708 Oceanography
- 0911 Maritime Engineering
- 0405 Oceanography