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On the interaction between ocean surface waves and seamounts

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Abstract

Of the many topographic features, more specifically seamounts, that are ubiquitous in the ocean floor, we focus our attention on those with relatively shallow summits that can interact with wind-generated surface waves. Among these, especially relatively long waves crossing the oceans (swells) and stormy seas are able to affect the water column up to a considerable depth and therefore interact with these deep-sea features. We quantify this interaction through numerical experiments using a numerical wave model (SWAN), in which a simply shaped seamount is exposed to waves of different length. The results show a strong interaction that leads to significant changes in the wave field, creating wake zones and regions of large wave amplification. This is then exemplified in a practical case where we analyze the interaction of more realistic sea conditions with a very shallow rock in the Yellow Sea. Potentially important for navigation and erosion processes, mutatis mutandis, these results are also indicative of possible interactions with emerged islands and sand banks in shelf seas.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge funding from Escuela Politécnica Nacional (Projects PIMI1402 and PIJ1503) and Senescyt Scholarship AR2Q-000105-2015. Luigi Cavaleri was partially supported by the EU contract 730030 (call H2020-EO-2016, “CEASELESS”). We are warmly indebted to our good friend Gerbrant van Vledder for leading us to the discovery of the art of the Polynesian navigators. We acknowledge the useful suggestions by the anonymous reviewers that helped to straighten the paper and make more clear the general results.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, University Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 1SS, UK

    Jeison Sosa

  2. Institute of Marine Sciences, ISMAR-CNR, Arsenale – Tesa 104, Castello 2737/F, 30122, Venice, Italy

    Luigi Cavaleri

  3. Mechanical Engineering Department, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Ladrón de Guevara E11-253, Quito, Ecuador

    Jesús Portilla-Yandún

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  1. Jeison Sosa
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  2. Luigi Cavaleri
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  3. Jesús Portilla-Yandún
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Correspondence to Jesús Portilla-Yandún.

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Sosa, J., Cavaleri, L. & Portilla-Yandún, J. On the interaction between ocean surface waves and seamounts. Ocean Dynamics 67, 1553–1565 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10236-017-1107-7

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