Observation of the Near-seabed Velocity and Particles Resuspension during Nonlinear Internal Solitary WaveEvents near the Dongsha Plateau at the Northern South China SeaEvents near the Dongsha Plateau
Abstract
An observational program to study the onset of the particles resuspension and the near-seabed velocity is proposed. A striking morphological feature on the slope near the Dongsha plateau at the northern South China Sea, is the continuous sediment waves (underwater sand dunes). The amplitudes and wavelengths exceed 16 m and 350 m, respectively. Nonlinear internal solitary waves (ISWs) are thought to be the cause of the formation of these sediment waves. When nonlinear ISWs reach the continental slope, their energy is dissipated via the bottom friction or internal breaking and the waveform changes. While the energy cascades down to finer scale, the bottom turbulence interaction and/or the dynamic pressure perturbation induced by ISWs cause the resuspension and redistribution of sediment particles and likely form the continuous sediment wave on the seafloor. To our knowledge, no direct observations of near-seabed velocity and sediment resuspension under ISW in the ocean have been made. I propose to use the Doppler Velocity Sampler combing with the underwater video system to observe the near-seabed velocity and the onset of the particles resuspension during the nonlinear ISW events.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 12, 2016
- Source ID
- N000141512485
Entities
People
- B. Barry
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Washington