The influence of Langmuir circulation and its modulation by an oscillating along-shelf current on the dynamics of cross-shelf flows

Cross-shelf transport in the inner continental shelf is governed by wind, wave, and tidal interactions, but the role of Langmuir circulation (LC), induced by wave-current interaction and modulated by tides, has remained under-studied in this setting. We develop a Reynolds-averaged Navier--Stokes (RANS) model incorporating the Craik--Leibovich vortex force to resolve LC, coupled with a mass-conserving undertow and oscillating along-shelf tidal currents, and compare results against a prior simpler model and field data from the Martha's Vineyard Coastal Observatory (MVCO).

Under strong wave forcing (significant wave height Hw = 2.12 m and significant wave period Tw = 5.8 s), LC persists throughout the tidal cycle, reducing vertical shear in the tidally averaged cross-shelf velocity profile compared to simulations excluding LC. During peak tidal velocity (reaching 25 cm/s with period of 12.42 hr), LC is temporarily suppressed but reforms rapidly as tidal energy declines, sustaining high vertical mixing. Conversely, under weak wave forcing (Hw = 0.837 m, Tw = 4.3 s), tidal currents persistently suppress LC, resulting in a cross-shelf undertow profile with greater vertical shear compared to strong-wave conditions.

Model–observation comparisons show that only simulations including both the Craik–Leibovich vortex force and tidal forcing reproduce the observed vertical structure of the undertow at MVCO. These results demonstrate that accurate prediction of cross-shelf transport at tidal and subtidal timescales requires resolving both the generation and disruption of LC by tides.