FRONTAL INSTABILITIES AND SUSPENDED SEDIMENT DISPERSAL OVER THE SHELF OF THE CILICIAN BASIN, SOUTHERN TURKEY

Abstract A narrow band of coastal waters with high sediment content, which develops along the southern Turkish coastline, is identified in satellite imagery. Such waters are present during periods of high freshwater runoff. The suspended sediment-laden waters extend from this narrow nearshore belt as a series of eddies, which are not normally seen on this scale in shallow waters. These eddies are produced by instability at the front, or density difference, between the nearshore waters and the offshore (more saline) continental shelf waters; they are analogous to similar phenomena produced in the laboratory. Flow within the eddies is initially perpendicular to the front, then across the general shore-parallel circulatory system over the area. The eddies extend over the whole width of the shelf and appear to be important agents for the seaward dispersal of fine-grained suspended sediments.