The tattered curtain hypothesis revised: Coastal jets limit cross‐shelf larval transport

Abstract

Lay AbstractThis biophysical modeling study examined how ocean currents control transport of simulated larvae and the relationship of coastal larval retention to wind forcing. We found that offshore transport was limited when an alongshore coastal jet of water was in place. This jet exhibited complex topology, remaining parallel to the coast for wide sections while simultaneously meandering and “tattering” in other regions. After long periods of strong wind forcing, the jet broke up and larvae moved offshore in complex patterns. However, the integrated strength of the wind only moderately predicted coastal retention of simulated larvae, suggesting that the jet dynamics are intrinsically nonlinear. Coastal jets are expected to exert a strong control on coastal transport in a variety of settings.