How to translate text using browser tools
1 November 2008 Role of Near-Bottom Currents in the Distribution of Sediments within the Southern Bay of Campeche, Gulf of Mexico
David Alberto Salas-de-León, María Adela Monreal-Gómez, Miguel Angel Díaz-Flores, David Salas-Monreal, Habacuc Velasco-Mendoza, Mayra Lorena Riverón-Enzástiga, Glicinia Ortiz-Zamora
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

The sediment distribution in the southern Bay of Campeche is mainly governed by wind-induced currents and mesoscale cyclonic eddies. An increase in sediment grain size toward the sea is attributed to the presence of a convergence zone that sorts the sediments from heavier to lighter. A small anticyclonic eddy near the coast leads to a concentration of sediments westward of the Grijalva-Usumacinta River. We combined current profiles and charts of the distribution of magnetic susceptibility within sediments with a hydrodynamic numerical model to elucidate the distribution of the major sedimentary units in the Southern Bay of Campeche, Gulf of Mexico. Acoustic Doppler current profiles and geostrophic velocity data were used to set the water velocity at the open boundaries of the applied numerical model. The model was forced by the dominant winds. Sediment on the southeastern side of the bay is dominated by carbonates because of a lack of river discharge and other systems that contribute terrigenous sediments. In the southernmost side of the bay, where the major rivers are located, the bottom sediments are mainly of terrigenous origin.

David Alberto Salas-de-León, María Adela Monreal-Gómez, Miguel Angel Díaz-Flores, David Salas-Monreal, Habacuc Velasco-Mendoza, Mayra Lorena Riverón-Enzástiga, and Glicinia Ortiz-Zamora "Role of Near-Bottom Currents in the Distribution of Sediments within the Southern Bay of Campeche, Gulf of Mexico," Journal of Coastal Research 2008(246), 1487-1494, (1 November 2008). https://doi.org/10.2112/07-0857.1
Received: 26 March 2007; Accepted: 1 September 2007; Published: 1 November 2008
KEYWORDS
Bahía de Campeche
Bay of Campeche
bottom currents
coastal currents
corrientes costeras
corrientes de fondo
Dinámica de procesos sedimentarios
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top