Circulation and sediment transport in the vicinity of the Hudson Shelf Valley

Sediment transport in the Hudson Shelf Valley and on the adjacent Long Island Shelf are evaluated using available data along with a three-dimensional wind-driven circulation model and a one-dimensional sediment transport model. Winds from the northwest drive currents up the Hudson Shelf Valley, while winds from the east produce weaker currents directed down the valley. Consistent with previous studies, sediment transport on the Long Island Shelf is dominated by resuspension during energetic wave events that are correlated with strong winds from the northeast, and net sediment flux is predicted to be towards the southwest along bathymetric contours. Transport of muddy sediments in the Hudson Shelf Valley, however, does not appear to be wave-dominated. These sediments are most likely to be resuspended by energetic currents driven by strong winds from the northwest that are not associated with energetic waves. The strong up-valley flows associated with these winds implies that net sediment flux along the Hudson Shelf Valley is up-valley.