We are working with a team to understand how kelp forests interact with, and influence coastal flows, and incorporating these effects into vegetation modules in coastal circulation models (COAWST). We are using a variety of techniques to understand bulk and individual drag coefficient variation with kelp biomass, canopy cover, and wave interactions. We are examining how kelp dampen flows around headlands and reduce effects of curvature (e.g. upwelling), and developing autonomous current profilers to sample at small scales around and within kelp forests. Our primary focus of this work is within the Buzos y Pescadores Coopertiva in Isla Natividad, Baja California Sur, MX.
This work is being conducted with the University of Florida (A. Valle-Levinson) and Stanford University (S. Monismith, M. Daly), and is funded through NSF.