Ocean Science
Ocean Science
OS
Articles | Volume 20, issue 2
Articles | Volume 20, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-20-569-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-20-569-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Articles | Volume 20, issue 2
Research article
 | Highlight paper
 | 
15 Apr 2024
Research article | Highlight paper |  | 15 Apr 2024

Resemblance of the global depth distribution of internal-tide generation and cold-water coral occurrences

Anna-Selma van der Kaaden, Dick van Oevelen, Christian Mohn, Karline Soetaert, Max Rietkerk, Johan van de Koppel, and Theo Gerkema

Data sets

ICES Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems data portal International Council for the Exploration of the Sea https://vme.ices.dk/download.aspx

Ocean Biodiversity Information System OBIS https://mapper.obis.org/

Video abstract

Video abstract Ocean Science Anna van der Kaaden https://youtu.be/u5cjfZdaT08

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Co-editor-in-chief
There have been various recent papers linking internal waves/tides with cold water coral distribution and abundance. This is the first one, to the best of our knowledge, that approaches the question from a global context. The focus on biophysical interaction means that it may be of particular interest to the broad geoscience community.
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Short summary
Cold-water corals (CWCs) and tidal waves in the interior of the ocean have been connected in case studies. We demonstrate this connection globally using hydrodynamic simulations and a CWC database. Internal-tide generation shows a similar depth pattern with slope steepness and latitude as CWCs. Our results suggest that internal-tide generation can be a useful predictor of CWC habitat and that current CWC habitats might change following climate-change-related shoaling of internal-tide generation.
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