Da. Cacchione et al., BOTTOM STRESS ESTIMATES AND SAND TRANSPORT ON NORTHERN CALIFORNIA INNER CONTINENTAL-SHELF, Continental shelf research, 14(10-11), 1994, pp. 1273-1289
Measurements of velocities and light transmission in the bottom bounda
ry layer on the continental shelf off northern California demonstrate
the importance of storms in the transport of sediment along the coast
and offshore in this region. Time-series estimates of bottom stress ob
tained from a combined wave-current bottom boundary layer model in whi
ch wave and current measurements from the Geoprobe tripod were used as
input show high stress values of 10 dynes cm-2 during two distinct st
orm events in early February and early March, 1991. These stresses ind
uce significant offshore sediment transport, achieving maximum values
of about 0.5 g cm-1 s-1. The net transport over the entire measurement
period from 30 January 1991 to 13 March 1991 was along the coast towa
rd the north and offshore. This transport pattern explains slow migrat
ion of low amplitude, broad crescentic dunes along and across this por
tion of the inner continental shelf.