Surge channel

A surge channel is a narrow inlet, usually on a rocky shoreline, and is formed by differential erosion of those rocks by coastal wave action.[1][2] As waves strike the shore, water fills the channel, and drains out again as the waves retreat. The narrow confines of the channel create powerful currents that reverse themselves rapidly as the water level rises and falls, and cause violent hydrodynamic mixing. However, there is relatively little exchange of water between channels; experimental studies and mathematical modelling of the coastline near Hopkins Marine Station in California have shown that water is rapidly mixed within each channel, but that it mostly moves in an oscillatory manner. Surge channels have been likened to 'containment vessels', retaining water borne gametes and probably enhancing the effectiveness of external fertilisation of marine species dwelling within them.[3][4]

Surge channel on the West Coast Trail, Vancouver Island.
Surge channel at Cronulla, New South Wales

Surge channels can form in reefs,[2]:14[5] and the term is sometimes also applied to breaches of coastal dunes by storms.[6][7]

Surge channels can range from a few inches across to ten feet or more across. They may create tide pools if the conditions are suitable, but the rapid water movement typically creates a dangerous situation for people or animals that are caught by the current.[8] The West Coast Trail on the coast of Vancouver Island is known for its large number of surge channels, some of which are impassable even at low tide and must be crossed inland.[9][10]

See also

References
  1. Spellman, Frank R. (2010-03-16). Geography for Nongeographers. Government Institutes. p. 30. ISBN 9781605906874.
  2. Light, Sol Felty (2007). The Light and Smith Manual: Intertidal Invertebrates from Central California to Oregon. University of California Press. ISBN 9780520239395.
  3. Denny, Mark; Diariki, Jeff; Distefano, Sandra (October 1992). "Biological Consequences of Topography on Wave-swept Rocky Shores: I. Enhancement of External Fertilization". Biological Bulletin. 183 (2): 220. doi:10.2307/1542209.
  4. Levin, Simon A.; Powell, Thomas M.; Steele, John H. (1993). Patch Dynamics. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 54. ISBN 9783642501555.
  5. Karleskint, George; Turner, Richard; Small, James (2013). Introduction to Marine Biology. Belmont, California: Cengage Learning. pp. 403–404. ISBN 1133364462.
  6. Kusky, Timothy M. (2003). Geological Hazards: A Sourcebook. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 155. ISBN 9781573564694.
  7. Kusky, Timothy M. (2008). The Coast: Hazardous Interactions Within the Coastal Environment. Infobase Publishing. p. 56. ISBN 9780816064670.
  8. "Surge Channels". coastsmart.ca. CoastSmart. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  9. Leadem, Tim (2015). Hiking the West Coast of Vancouver Island: An Updated and Comprehensive Guide to All Major Trails. Greystone Books Ltd. pp. 58, 66, 117, 146–147. ISBN 9781771641463.
  10. "West Coast Trail Map" (PDF). Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
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