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Oceans
Wave energy asymmetry in shallow bays
Article first published online: 16 DEC 2010
DOI: 10.1029/2010GL045254
Copyright 2010 by the American Geophysical Union.
Additional Information
How to Cite
, , , , and (2010), Wave energy asymmetry in shallow bays, Geophys. Res. Lett., 37, L24601, doi:10.1029/2010GL045254.
Publication History
- Issue published online: 16 DEC 2010
- Article first published online: 16 DEC 2010
- Manuscript Accepted: 19 OCT 2010
- Manuscript Revised: 8 OCT 2010
- Manuscript Received: 24 AUG 2010
Keywords:
- Ekman transport;
- storm surge;
- wind waves
[1] Storm surges along the coastline of the United States are often driven by along-shore winds triggering cross-shore Ekman transport. Here we show that this mechanism creates ideal conditions for large wave events in the shallow bays characterizing much of the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coastlines. A positive feedback enhances wave formation during along-shore wind events, affecting the spatial distribution of waves and wave-forced erosion in shallow bays at a continental scale.