Langmuir Supercells: A Mechanism for Sediment Resuspension and Transport in Shallow Seas

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 306; no. 5703; pp. 1925 - 1928
• Main Authors: Gargett, A., Wells, J., Tejada-Martínez, A. E., Grosch, C. E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Association for the Advancement of Science 10.12.2004; The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Flow velocity; Marine; Marine and continental quaternary; Marine geology; Marine sciences; Marine sediments; Motion; Natural history; Ocean; Ocean circulation; Oceanography; Oceans; Radial velocity; Seas; Sediment transport; Sediments; Surface waves; Surficial geology; Upwelling water; Water; Water depth; Wave velocity; Waves; United States; New Jersey; ANW, USA, New Jersey; deep-sea environment; continental shelf; North America; remobilization; sedimentation; sediment transport; colonization; circulation; benthonic taxa; mechanism; shallow-water environment; suspension; marine sediments; storms
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.1100849

Recent measurements at a cabled sea-floor node in 15 meters of water off the coast of New Jersey suggest that Langmuir supercells, Langmuir circulations that achieve vertical scales equal to the water depth under extended storms, are an important mechanism for major sediment resuspension events on the extensive shallow shelves off the eastern U.S. coast. Because sediment resuspension is a prelude to transport, supercell events are a necessary condition for major sediment transport. Such events may also contribute to shelf-sea exchange and to offshore gradation of benthic community structure in shallow seas.