Print Email Facebook Twitter Momentum Balance Across a Barrier Reef Title Momentum Balance Across a Barrier Reef Author Sous, D. (Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO); Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour) Dodet, G. (Univ. Brest/CNRS/Ifremer/IRD) Bouchette, Frédéric (CNRS/Université de Montpellier II; Gladys) Tissier, M.F.S. (TU Delft Environmental Fluid Mechanics) Date 2020 Abstract This paper reports on a combined experimental and numerical study dedicated to barrier reefs hydrodynamics. A network of pressure sensors and velocity profilers has been deployed for more than 2 months over the Ouano reef barrier, New Caledonia. The primary aim of the study is to assess the relevance of the classical depth-averaged momentum balance in such a complex and poorly documented environment. The combined analysis of experimental and numerical measurements reveals a specific hydrodynamic behavior contrasting with sandy beaches and fringing reefs. The cross-reef current induced by wave breaking over the barrier reef plays an important role in the momentum budget, in particular through friction processes. The hydrodynamic behavior over the barrier reef is thus characterized by the progressive transition from a nearly classical beach type behavior on the forereef, where the gradient of radiation stress is balanced by a barotropic pressure gradient associated to the wave setup, to an open-channel type regime, dominated by frictional head loss. The reef top wave setup shows a clear depth dependency mainly attributed to the forereef curvature. During extreme wave events, the measurements tend to indicate a transition toward a critical hydraulic regime above the reef top. The numerical simulations, involving a non-hydrostatic wave-resolving model coupled to a (Formula presented.) turbulence model, highlight the vertical structure of the flow. Over the reef flat, a classical log-layer profile is observed, in agreement with measurements, while above the forereef an anticlockwise circulation develops under the breaking zone. Subject barrier reefcoralexperimentsfrictionmomentumwave To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:6066dd38-bcde-4609-a133-89a1f4e8a74b DOI https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JC015503 Embargo date 2020-08-07 ISSN 2169-9275 Source Journal Of Geophysical Research-Oceans, 125 (2), 1-24 Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2020 D. Sous, G. Dodet, Frédéric Bouchette, M.F.S. Tissier Files PDF 2019JC015503.pdf 18.47 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid%3A6066dd38-bcde-4609-a133-89a1f4e8a74b/datastream/OBJ/view