Author(s)

J.L. Pelegri, A. Antoranz, C. Gordo, A. Herndndez-Guerra, A. Martinez & P. Sangra

Abstract

Mechanisms of water exchange at the platform edge of oceanic islands J.L. Pelegri, A. Antoranz, C. Gordo, A. Hernandez-Guerra, A. Martinez & P. Sangra Departamento de Fisica, Facultadde Ciencias del Mar, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain Abstract Islands in deep oceanic waters have rather vulnerable ecosystems due both to the narrowness of their coastal platforms and the presence of very steep slopes. We examine the different mechanisms capable of exchanging water at the platform edge of oceanic islands, and conclude that the principal ones are turbulent transport in the boundary layers generated by intense deep ocean currents and wind-induced cross-slope transport at selected coastal sites. 1 Introduction A common acquiescence is that coastal areas in oceanic islands are in good health because whatever is thrown to the water is carried to the deep ocean by the currents. The only "evidence" behind this puerile idea, however, is that xenobiotic compounds are not visibl

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