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Dynamics, diffusion and geomorphological significance of tidal residual eddies

Nature volume 290, pages 549–555 (1981)Cite this article

Abstract

Many shallow tidal areas show the occurrence of ebb and flood surplusses, organized in cell-like structures or ‘tidal residual eddies’. They seem to arise from a nonlinear transfer of vorticity from the oscillating tidal field to the mean field, the irregular structure of the bottom topography or the coastline acting as a catalyst to produce the necessary vorticity gradients. The dynamical characteristics of the eddies assist our understanding of the geomorphology of the sea bed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, PO Box 59, Texel, The Netherlands

    J. T. F. Zimmerman

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  1. J. T. F. Zimmerman
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Zimmerman, J. Dynamics, diffusion and geomorphological significance of tidal residual eddies. Nature 290, 549–555 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1038/290549a0

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