The sediment dynamics component of the Molokai coral reef project is to study the current and suspended sediment regime on the southern Molokai reef flat, documenting suspended-sediment concentrations, currents, and wave-orbital velocities as a function of tides, offshore wave forcing and wind forcing. Daily suspension events occur and strengthen in the tradewind-dominated period. Transport is consistently to the West along the reef flat and offshore correlating in space with a zone of stressed coral on the forereef. Additionally, a small scale experiment was conducted to study the circulation and suspension on the reef, addressing the question of small-scale circulation and fate of suspended sediment within the length scales of hypothesized circulation cells defined by the coastal fish ponds.
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