| The interaction of tidal currents with Fraser Ridge in the Strait of Georgia, B.C., generates an internal lee-wave on each strong flood but, due to the ridge's asymmetry, not during ebbs. Just prior to lee-wave formation, a strong accelerated bottom jet forms with magnitudes up to 0.7 m s-1 forms during barotropic tidal flows reaching 0.2 m s -1. On the steepest slope, this jet forms directly above a rare glass sponge reef, and may prevent the sponges from being smothered in sediment by periodically resuspending and carrying it away. Both the accelerated jet and lee-wave remove tidal energy. At peak flood tide, the lee-wave has energy dissipation rates reaching 10-5 W kg-1 that removes energy at a rate of ∼611 W m-1, while the bottom boundary layer at the time of the accelerated jet has energy dissipation rates reaching 10-4 W kg-1 that removes energy at a rate of ∼525 W m-1. |
