Articles | Volume 21, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-643-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-643-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
14 Mar 2025
Research article |
| 14 Mar 2025
| 14 Mar 2025
The influence of a submarine canyon on the wind-driven downwelling circulation over the continental shelf
Pedro A. Figueroa
Departamento de Física, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Bío-Bío, Concepción, Chile
Gonzalo S. Saldías
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Departamento de Física, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Bío-Bío, Concepción, Chile
Centro de Investigación Oceanográfica COPAS Coastal, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
Susan E. Allen
Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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Short summary
Submarine canyons are topographic features found along the continental slope worldwide. Here we use numerical simulations to study how a submarine canyon influences the circulation near the coast when winds moving poleward influence the region. Our results show that submarine canyons modify the circulation near the coast, causing strong velocities perpendicular to the coast. These changes can trap particles inside the canyon, an important mechanism to explain its role as a biological hotspot.
Submarine canyons are topographic features found along the continental slope worldwide. Here we...
