On the influence of cold water coral mound size on flow hydrodynamics, and vice versa
Using a combination of in situ observations and idealistic 2 D nonhydrostatic numericalsimulations, the relation between cold water coral (CWC) mound size and hydrodynamics is explored forthe Rockall Bank area in the North Atlantic Ocean. It is shown that currents generated by topographicallytrapped tidal waves in this area cause large isopycnal depressions resulting from an internal hydrauliccontrol above CWC mounds. The oxygen concentration distribution is used as a tracer to visualize the flowbehavior and the turbulent mixing above the mounds. By comparing two CWC mounds of different sizesand located close to each other, it is shown that the resulting mixing is highly dependent on the size of themound. The effects of the hydraulic control for mixing, nutrient availability, and ecosystem functioning arealso discussed.