Reef Flat Flow Dynamics for a Nearly Closed Fringing Reef Lagoon: Ofu, American Samoa

We discuss observations of tidally varying wave-forced flows in the reef system on Ofu, American Samoa, a barrier reef and lagoon system that appears open at low tide and closed at high tide. At high tide, the free-surface pressure gradient nearly balances the radiation stress gradient in the depth-integrated momentum equation. At depth, there is an imbalance between these two forces, generating an undertow and flows that turn alongshore, and for some of the time, offshore, behavior similar to rip currents observed on beaches. At low tides, the wave forcing drives purely onshore flows. In general, wave transport is important to determining the total net transport. While the dynamically closed nature of the lagoon mostly suppresses cross-reef transport, there is always some flow through the lagoon with the strongest flows occurring at high tides and when the wave forcing is strongest.

Automated summary

This study discusses the wave-forced flows in the reef system on Ofu, American Samoa, which are influenced by tidal variations. At high tide, the balance between the free-surface pressure gradient and the radiation stress gradient generates undertows and alongshore flows, similar to rip currents observed on beaches. At low tides, the wave forcing drives purely onshore flows. Wave transport plays a significant role in determining the total net transport, with the strongest flows occurring at high tides and when the wave forcing is strongest.