Short wave attenuation by a kelp forest canopy

M. Lindhart; M. A. Daly; H. Walker; I. B. Arzeno-Soltero; J. Z. Yin; T. W. Bell; S. G. Monismith; G. Pawlak; J. J. Leichter

doi:10.1002/lol2.10401

Short wave attenuation by a kelp forest canopy

M. Lindhart^*, M. A. Daly, H. Walker, I. B. Arzeno-Soltero, J. Z. Yin, T. W. Bell, S. G. Monismith, G. Pawlak, J. J. Leichter

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › peer-review

Abstract

Giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) forests are common along the California coast. Attached on the rocky bottom at depths of approximately 5–25 m, the kelp, when mature, spans the water column and develops dense, buoyant canopies that interact with waves and currents. We present two novel results based on observations of surface gravity waves in a kelp forest in Point Loma, California. First, we report short wave (1–3 s) attenuation in kelp, quantified by an exponential decay coefficient (Formula presented.) —comparable to the dampening effect of sea ice. Second, we identify seasonal and tidal changes in attenuation, peaking mid-summer with maximum kelp cover, and during low tide when a greater proportion of the fronds are at the surface. Thus, the naturally occurring surface canopies of kelp forests can act as temporally varying, high-frequency filters of wave energy.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	478-486
Number of pages	9
Journal	Limnology And Oceanography Letters
Volume	9
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/lol2.10401
Publication status	Published - 10 May 2024

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Oceanography
Aquatic Science

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1002/lol2.10401

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@article{3d7addd5128547c0a96217c8890135e9,

title = "Short wave attenuation by a kelp forest canopy",

abstract = "Giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) forests are common along the California coast. Attached on the rocky bottom at depths of approximately 5–25 m, the kelp, when mature, spans the water column and develops dense, buoyant canopies that interact with waves and currents. We present two novel results based on observations of surface gravity waves in a kelp forest in Point Loma, California. First, we report short wave (1–3 s) attenuation in kelp, quantified by an exponential decay coefficient (Formula presented.) —comparable to the dampening effect of sea ice. Second, we identify seasonal and tidal changes in attenuation, peaking mid-summer with maximum kelp cover, and during low tide when a greater proportion of the fronds are at the surface. Thus, the naturally occurring surface canopies of kelp forests can act as temporally varying, high-frequency filters of wave energy.",

author = "M. Lindhart and Daly, {M. A.} and H. Walker and Arzeno-Soltero, {I. B.} and Yin, {J. Z.} and Bell, {T. W.} and Monismith, {S. G.} and G. Pawlak and Leichter, {J. J.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2024 The Authors. Limnology and Oceanography Letters published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography.",

year = "2024",

month = may,

day = "10",

doi = "10.1002/lol2.10401",

language = "English",

volume = "9",

pages = "478--486",

journal = "Limnology And Oceanography Letters",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Short wave attenuation by a kelp forest canopy

AU - Lindhart, M.

AU - Daly, M. A.

AU - Walker, H.

AU - Arzeno-Soltero, I. B.

AU - Yin, J. Z.

AU - Bell, T. W.

AU - Monismith, S. G.

AU - Pawlak, G.

AU - Leichter, J. J.

PY - 2024/5/10

Y1 - 2024/5/10

N2 - Giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) forests are common along the California coast. Attached on the rocky bottom at depths of approximately 5–25 m, the kelp, when mature, spans the water column and develops dense, buoyant canopies that interact with waves and currents. We present two novel results based on observations of surface gravity waves in a kelp forest in Point Loma, California. First, we report short wave (1–3 s) attenuation in kelp, quantified by an exponential decay coefficient (Formula presented.) —comparable to the dampening effect of sea ice. Second, we identify seasonal and tidal changes in attenuation, peaking mid-summer with maximum kelp cover, and during low tide when a greater proportion of the fronds are at the surface. Thus, the naturally occurring surface canopies of kelp forests can act as temporally varying, high-frequency filters of wave energy.

AB - Giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) forests are common along the California coast. Attached on the rocky bottom at depths of approximately 5–25 m, the kelp, when mature, spans the water column and develops dense, buoyant canopies that interact with waves and currents. We present two novel results based on observations of surface gravity waves in a kelp forest in Point Loma, California. First, we report short wave (1–3 s) attenuation in kelp, quantified by an exponential decay coefficient (Formula presented.) —comparable to the dampening effect of sea ice. Second, we identify seasonal and tidal changes in attenuation, peaking mid-summer with maximum kelp cover, and during low tide when a greater proportion of the fronds are at the surface. Thus, the naturally occurring surface canopies of kelp forests can act as temporally varying, high-frequency filters of wave energy.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85192570126&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1002/lol2.10401

DO - 10.1002/lol2.10401

M3 - Letter

AN - SCOPUS:85192570126

SN - 2378-2242

VL - 9

SP - 478

EP - 486

JO - Limnology And Oceanography Letters

JF - Limnology And Oceanography Letters

IS - 4

ER -

Short wave attenuation by a kelp forest canopy

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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