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Transient Rip-currents on the Stratified Inner-shelf

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Extent

2 digital objects.

Cite This Work

Grimes, Derek J.; Feddersen, Falk; Kumar, Nirnimesh (2020). Transient Rip-Currents on the Stratified Inner-shelf. UC San Diego Library Digital Collections. https://doi.org/10.6075/J089148N

Description

Transient Rip-currents (TRCs) are ubiquitous in natural surfzones, and are characterized by strong, episodic offshore directed flows and formation of inner-shelf eddies (Johnson & Pattiaratchi, 2006). The genesis of TRCs is attributed to the coalescence of surf-zone horizontal turbulent eddies generated by finite crest length breaking waves (e.g., Peregrine, 1998; Clark et al., 2010, 2012). In alongshore uniform regimes, TRCs are a dominant mechanism for exchanging tracers between the surf-zone and inner-shelf (e.g., Hally-Rosendahl et al., 2014, 2015). Until recently, effects of TRCs on inner-shelf circulation and exchange were unknown. Through a series of idealized surf-zone/inner-shelf simulations that included the generation of TRCs, Kumar & Feddersen (JPO I-II & GRL, 2017) found that strong vertical mixing induced by TRCs on a stratified inner-shelf generate a baroclinic cross-shore exchange flow that is absent for unstratified conditions. The TRC driven cross-shore exchange was larger than simulations including waves but no TRCs out to several surf-zone widths from shore (approx. 800 m). Although it was determined that the TRC exchange mechanism depended critically on stratification, that dependence was not uncovered. Additionally, other forcing mechanisms that affect stratification were not included. This digital collection archives simulation output and results related to the continued efforts in understanding the TRC baroclinic exchange mechanism.

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