Dense shelf water formation along the south-west Australian inner shelf

Charitha Pattiaratchi, Ben Hollings, Mun Woo, Thisara Welhena

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    29 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Hydrological data from a repeated cross-shore transect obtained using Teledyne Webb Research Slocum Electric gliders offshore Two Rocks in south-western Australia over 13 months are presented. The data revealed that formation of dense water inshore and its transport across the shelf as a near bed gravity current (defined as Dense Shelf Water Cascade, DSWC) was a regular occurrence, particularly during autumn and winter months. In autumn, the dense water is mainly formed through changes in salinity resulting from evaporation, whilst in winter; temperature change through surface cooling was the dominant factor. The mean wind speeds also decrease during the transition during autumn. The speed of the DSWC was estimated to be 0.01–0.02 m s−1, and similar to that measured in other selected regions globally. The offshore transport from the shelf is a significant component of the alongshore wind-driven transport.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalGeophysical Research Letters
    Volume38
    Issue number10
    Early online date28 May 2011
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - May 2011

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