Models of cross shelf transport introduced by the Lofoten Maelstrom

摘要

The drift of particles released in the tidal current (Moskstraumen) near Lofotodden, located at 6Tdegrees50'N, 12degrees50'E, has been studied. The periodical tidal current combined with a background current is found to introduce a transport between Vestfjorden inside Lofotodden and the shelf outside. This particular transport may be important for the drift of cod eggs, larvae and other important biological and chemical tracers. A fine-resolution numerical model provided the Eulerian tidal current field based on which the particle trajectories are calculated using a Lagrangian particle tracking technique. The tracking algorithm was extended by a random-walk method to simulate small scale turbulence. An idealized current model of the area is also developed for use as a simplification tool to reveal the basic mechanisms of the drift and to demonstrate the sensibility of time stepping in numerical integration. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. [References: 20]