Wave-Current Ripple Geometry and Mobile Layer Depths on Sable Island Bank.

Observations of the temporal evolution of seafloor ripples are analyzed in terms of geometric properties, migration rate, and hydrodynamic forcing. Observations were collected during five experiments on Sable Island Bank using rotary acoustic sonars, acoustic backscatter sensors and current meters. The bed consisted of medium to coarse sand in water depths of 18 to 40 m. Mobile layer depths, estimated from changes in bed elevation and bedform height, increased linearly with peak significant wave height. Wave and wave-current ripples formed in response to swell, storms and semi-diurnal tides. Ripple height and wavelength compared favorably to previous field observations, and except in one case, ripple direction was approximately parallel to wave direction. Ripple types were classified according to current and wave Shields parameter in a similar manner to Amos et al.(1988).