Near-shore current measured in ridge-and-swale topography off Long Island, New York

Journal Article · Thu May 20 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JC087iC06p04190· OSTI ID:5081337

Lavelle, J W; Swift, D J.P.

Eighteen near-shore current records within area 11 km/sup 2/ on the Long Island inner shelf have been examined for indication of small-scale topographic influence. In the frictionally influenced near-shore water column, currents over the 39-day records are generally oriented slightly clockwise of the longshore direction toward the principal axis of the local ridge-and-swale topography. This orientation angle is largest and closest to the local topographic axis when semidiurnal tidal currents dominate other flows, a result which may suggest that tidal currents play a role in molding the local topography. Viscous tidal current theory for a constant depth surface described the observed dependence of the semidiurnal (M/sub 2/) tidal current ellipticity and ellipse orientation on depth. The inferred vertical eddy viscosity coefficient ranges from 5 to 35 cm /sup 2//s.

• Research Organization: NOAA/Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, Seattle, Washington 98105
• OSTI ID: 5081337
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 87:C6; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
580500* -- Oceanography-- (1980-1989)
ATLANTIC OCEAN
CONTINENTAL MARGIN
CONTINENTAL SHELF
CURRENTS
DIFFUSION
NEW YORK BIGHT
SEA BED
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
TIDE
TOPOGRAPHY
WATER CURRENTS