Sandwave movement under tidal and wind-driven currents in a shallow marine environment: Adolphus Channel, northeastern Australia

Abstract

Synoptic bathymetric surveys and current meter data collected over a sandwave field in Adolphus Channel (20 m water depth), Australia, yield average estimated celebrities of 0.75 and 0.25 m day −1, respectively. The sandwaves average 3.9 m in height, 102 m in wavelength and are comprised of up to 96% carbonate, consisting primarily of intact and fragmented calcareous alga Halimeda, benthic foraminifers, bryozoans and molluscs. The sand has a modal grain size of 0.8 mm. Current speeds measured 1 m above the bed averaged 0.42 m −1 and reached a peak of 1.36 m −1. Surveys carried out in September and February show that the sandwaves reversed their asymmetric orientation over this time interval, which is attributed to a change in the direction of the wind-driven currents during the monsoon season. The reversal of asymmetry was accompanied by a statistically significant change in the degree of sandwave asymmetry (ratio of stoss and lee slope lengths) whereas no change in mean wavelength was detected. The reversal is estimated to have required 47 days to occur based upon estimates of average sandwave cross-sectional area and bedload transport rates predicted from the current meter data.