Skip to main content

IMIS

A new integrated search interface will become available in the next phase of marineinfo.org.
For the time being, please use IMIS to search available data

 

[ report an error in this record ]basket (0): add | show Print this page

Internal wave turbulence at a biologically rich Mid-Atlantic seamount
van Haren, H.; Hanz, U.; de Stigter, H.; Mienis, F.; Duineveld, G. (2017). Internal wave turbulence at a biologically rich Mid-Atlantic seamount. PLoS One 12(12): e0189720. https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0189720
In: PLoS One. Public Library of Science: San Francisco. ISSN 1932-6203; e-ISSN 1932-6203, more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Authors  Top 

Abstract
    The turbulence regime near the crest of a biologically rich seamount of the Mid-AtlanticRidge southwest of the Azores was registered in high spatial and temporal resolution. Internaltides and their higher harmonics dominate the internal wave motions, producing considerableshear-induced turbulent mixing in layers of 10±50 m thickness. This interior mixing ofabout 100 times open-ocean interior values is observed both at a high-resolution temperaturesensor mooring-site at the crest, 770 m water depth being nearly 400 m below the top ofthe seamount, and a CTD-yoyo site at the slope off the crest 400 m horizontally away, 880m water depth. Only at the mooring site, additionally two times higher turbulence is observednear the bottom, associated with highly non-linear wave breaking. The highest abundanceof epifauna, notably sponges, are observed just below the crest and 100 m down the easternslope (700±800 m) in a cross-ridge video-camera transect. This sponge belt is located in awater layer of depressed oxygen levels (saturation 63±2%) with a local minimum centeredaround 700 m. Turbulent mixing supplies oxygen to this region from above and below and isexpected to mix nutrients away from this biodegraded layer towards the depth of highestabundance of macrofauna.

All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors