Data from: Near-inertial internal waves funnelled into Taylor caps shape seamount tops, with implications for biodiversity in the deep ocean
Data files
Apr 23, 2026 version files 1.21 MB
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1_Mean_data.csv
3.08 KB
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2_Time_series1_data.csv
282.02 KB
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3_Time_series2_data.csv
44.04 KB
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4_Time_series_NIKE_data.csv
198.42 KB
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5_Spectrum_data.csv
242.20 KB
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6_Shear_data.csv
435.70 KB
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7_Acoustic_backscattering_data.csv
1.79 KB
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README.md
4.09 KB
Abstract
Internal waves are energetic and ubiquitous in the ocean and their interactions with submarine topography could drive sediment resuspension and reshape seafloor substrate. However, the mechanisms governing such interactions are largely unknown. Here, using observational data at Pacific deep-sea seamounts, we show how near-inertial internal waves (NIWs) may affect substrate variability and benthic biodiversity via interactions with seamounts. In this dataset, we report in-situ observational data collected from six mooring sites on Caiwei seamount (CS) and Weijia seamount (WS) in the Northwest Pacific.
Description of the data and file structure
Mooring current and hydrological data were collected at two seamounts in the seamount chains in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean, the Caiwei seamount (CS) and Weijia seamount (WS). At both guyots, there were three moorings: C1-C3 at the CS and W1-W3 at the WS. Four of them (C1, C2, W1 and W2) were located at the flat summit. Another two moorings, C3 and W3, were at the summit edge. All moorings were equipped with seabird-37 conductivity-temperature-depth sensors (CTDs) and Aanderaa current meters (ACMs) installed below 100 m above the seafloor (Hab < 100 m). The mooring at W1 was also equipped with an upward looking 75KHz acoustic Doppler current profile (ADCP) fixed at depth of ∼400 m, while a downward looking 150KHz ADCP was fixed at Hab = 200 m at C3. Near C3 and W3, there were another two mooring sites equipped with an upward-looking 75KHz ADCP fixed at depths of 370 m and 320 m, respectively. At C3, two moorings had different observation periods but their observations near W3 were synchronous. All ACMs collected a sample every 30 min, and four ADCPs recorded data every 30 min, covering the depth ranges of 1216 to 1304 m at C1, 42 to 346 m at C3, 48 to 368 m at W1, and 42 to 298 m at W3. At W1, six Seabird TD probes fixed at depths of 400 m, 500 m, 600 m, 700 m, 900 m and 1100 m were also deployed and the ACM fixed at Hab = 50 m was also installed with pressure and temperature sensors. All CTD sensors collected a sample every 10 min, while the TD sensors recorded data every 5 min.
Files and variables
File: 1_Mean_data.csv
Description: Time-averaged bottom velocity and near-inertial kinetic energy KENIW at mooring sites
Variables
- Site: mooring sites C1-C3, W1-W4
- u: eastward current velocity, [cm/s]
- v: northward current velocity, [cm/s]
- H_ab: Depth above the seafloor, [m]
- KE_NIW: Time-averaged near-inertial kinetic energy, [J/m^3^]
File: 2_Time_series1_data.csv
Description: Time series of raw velocity, temperature anomaly and vertical temperature difference at mooring sites C2, W1 and W2
Variables
- Site: mooring sites C2, W1 and W2
- Time: local time, [dd-mm-yyyy hh:mm:ss]
- Ta: temperature anomalies, [°C]
- Tz: temperature difference, [°C]
- u: zonal velocity, [m/s]
- Ub: near-bottom velocity amplitude, [m/s]
- Ub_NIW: near-bottom inertial velocity amplitude, [m/s]
File: 3_Time_series2_data.csv
Description: Time series of low-frequency velocity, vorticity and density difference at mooring sites C2/C3 and W2/W3
Variables
- Site: mooring sites C2, C3, W2 and W3
- Time: local time, [dd-mm-yyyy hh:mm:ss]
- ul: low-pass filtered along-isobath velocity, [m/s]
- dRo: horizontal density difference, [kg/m^3^]
- Vot: Relative vorticity, [s ^-1^]
File: 4_Time_series_NIKE_data.csv
Description: Time-depth series of near-inertial kinetic energy at mooring sites C2, W2 and W3
Variables
- Site: mooring sites C2, C3, W2 and W3
- Time: local time, [dd-mm-yyyy hh:mm:ss]
- hs: depth below the sea surface, [m]
File: 5_Spectrum_data.csv
Description: Spectrum at mooring sites C2, C3, W1 and W2
Variables
- Site: mooring sites C2, C3, W1 and W2
- fre: frequency, [cpd]
- Pw: Spectral density [m^2^s ^-2^/cpd]
File: 6_Shear_data.csv
Description: The near-bottom shear spectra and Richardson number at C2 site
Variables
- fre: frequency, [cpd]
- Pw_shear: the spectra computed from velocity shear, [s ^-2^/cpd]
- Time: local time, [dd-mm-yyyy hh:mm:ss]
- Rib: Richardson number
File: 7_Acoustic_backscattering_data.csv
Description: Bin-averaged acoustic backscattering intensity and near-inertial velocity amplitude
Variables
- Site: mooring sites C2, W1 and W2
- Ama: Bin-averaged acoustic backscattering intensity
- Ufa: Bin-averaged near-inertial velocity amplitude
Mooring current and hydrological data were collected at two seamounts in the seamount chains in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean, the Caiwei seamount (CS) and Weijia seamount (WS). At both guyots, there were three moorings: C1-C3 at the CS and W1-W3 at the WS. Four of them (C1, C2, W1 and W2) were located at the flat summit. Another two moorings, C3 and W3, were at the summit edge. All moorings were equipped with seabird-37 conductivity-temperature-depth sensors (CTDs) and Aanderaa current meters (ACMs) installed below 100 m above the seafloor (Hab < 100 m). The mooring at W1 was also equipped with an upward looking 75KHz acoustic Doppler current profile (ADCP) fixed at depth of ∼400 m, while a downward looking 150KHz ADCP was fixed at Hab = 200 m at C3. Near C3 and W3, there were another two mooring sites equipped with an upward-looking 75KHz ADCP fixed at depths of 370 m and 320 m, respectively. At C3, two moorings had different observation periods but their observations near W3 were synchronous. All ACMs collected a sample every 30 min, and four ADCPs recorded data every 30 min, covering the depth ranges of 1216 to 1304 m at C1, 42 to 346 m at C3, 48 to 368 m at W1, and 42 to 298 m at W3. At W1, six Seabird TD probes fixed at depths of 400 m, 500 m, 600 m, 700 m, 900 m and 1100 m were also deployed and the ACM fixed at Hab = 50 m was also installed with pressure and temperature sensors. All CTD sensors collected a sample every 10 min, while the TD sensors recorded data every 5 min.