Fetch-limited self-organization of elongate water bodies

Research Article| February 01, 2009 Fetch-limited self-organization of elongate water bodies Andrew D. Ashton; Andrew D. Ashton 1Coastal Systems Group, Department of Geology and Geophysics, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar A. Brad Murray; A. Brad Murray 2Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Nicholas School of the Earth and Environment/Center for Complex and Nonlinear Processes, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27707, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Ryan Littlewood; Ryan Littlewood 2Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Nicholas School of the Earth and Environment/Center for Complex and Nonlinear Processes, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27707, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar David A. Lewis; David A. Lewis 2Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Nicholas School of the Earth and Environment/Center for Complex and Nonlinear Processes, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27707, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Pauline Hong Pauline Hong 2Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Nicholas School of the Earth and Environment/Center for Complex and Nonlinear Processes, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27707, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Andrew D. Ashton 1Coastal Systems Group, Department of Geology and Geophysics, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, USA A. Brad Murray 2Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Nicholas School of the Earth and Environment/Center for Complex and Nonlinear Processes, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27707, USA Ryan Littlewood 2Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Nicholas School of the Earth and Environment/Center for Complex and Nonlinear Processes, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27707, USA David A. Lewis 2Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Nicholas School of the Earth and Environment/Center for Complex and Nonlinear Processes, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27707, USA Pauline Hong 2Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Nicholas School of the Earth and Environment/Center for Complex and Nonlinear Processes, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27707, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 27 Jun 2008 Revision Received: 13 Oct 2008 Accepted: 15 Oct 2008 First Online: 12 Oct 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2009 Geological Society of America Geology (2009) 37 (2): 187–190. https://doi.org/10.1130/G25299A.1 Article history Received: 27 Jun 2008 Revision Received: 13 Oct 2008 Accepted: 15 Oct 2008 First Online: 12 Oct 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Andrew D. Ashton, A. Brad Murray, Ryan Littlewood, David A. Lewis, Pauline Hong; Fetch-limited self-organization of elongate water bodies. Geology 2009;; 37 (2): 187–190. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G25299A.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Naturally occurring elongate bodies that are segmented or appear to be in the process of segmentation occur in a variety of environments and scales. A simple, process-based numerical model of planform shoreline evolution demonstrates that fetch controls on alongshore sediment transport can result in the segmentation of an elongate water body into smaller, rounded lakes or ponds. The shape of elongate water bodies leaves their long coasts prone to a high-angle-wave instability in shoreline shape that results in the formation of capes that grow through interactions with one another along the same coast. In a numerical model, as capes extend farther offshore, a new behavior emerges, whereby capes on opposing coasts attract one another laterally as they grow, suggesting a novel mechanism for large-scale shoreline self-organization through fetch-limiting interactions. We demonstrate these interactions through analysis of local net sediment flux and coastline stability. Ensemble model runs suggest that, for a symmetric wind distribution, the initial segmentation of a water body requires four lengths per initial width, yet water bodies with higher initial aspect ratios segment to one final round water body per factor of two of the initial aspect ratio. Wave-dominated elongate water bodies with coasts consisting of clastic sediment (and a lack of vegetation) are most likely to undergo this predicted segmentation. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.