MUDWAVES ON THE GARDAR SEDIMENT DRIFT, NE ATLANTIC

Small-amplitude (< 15 m) mudwaves were mapped on the Gardar Sediment Drift using the Hydrosweep DS multibeam echosounder system on the R/V Maurice Ewing. Improved data processing techniques allowed the swath mapped bathymetry to image features smaller than the nominal resolution (similar to 14 m) of Hydrosweep. Mudwave heights, wavelengths, and orientations were determined from the Hydrosweep data and in conjunction with 3.5-kHz profiles, these mudwave fields were analyzed with regard to present models of mudwave formation. Mudwave crest orientation was clockwise to mean bottom flow direction and migration was to the right of measured currents for two areas on the drift. This is consistent with models developed on large-amplitude mudwaves. Using mudwave orientation and migration direction in a third area, bottom current directions were inferred.