| Downward particle fluxes off the Taotoi Pass, a typical Polynesian lagoon pass, have been measured over an annual cycle by means of an array of three mooring lines deployed at 40 m depth on the external sandy plain seawards of the Tiahura reef. Each line was equipped with two hand-operated sediment traps located 1.5 and 10 m above the bottom. During the 1-year survey, the traps were deployed for seven periods of 2-3 weeks. One line equipped with an automated trap was further deployed at 400 m depth on the deep fore-reef slope to collect deep settling particles over two consecutive 6-month periods. For all periods investigated, fluxes on the external plain were highest in front of the pass, and decreased by half on either side (up- and downstream with... |
