Spatial and temporal variability of the upper ocean on the New England Continental Shelf

People: Mark Pritchard

Description:
In collaboration with Department of Physical Oceanography Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Ma, USA.

This research program is investigating the dynamics that drive the observed temporal and spatial variability of the upper ocean on inner regions of a broad continental shelf.

Earlier observations made during 2001 on the New England shelf have suggested the inshore variability is partially linked to internal waves generated by tidal processes that interact with steep bottom topography and the summer time surface heating that induces thermal stratification through the water column. This study examines longer and larger data sets collected from a shelf wide mooring array during 2002. Analysis is exploring the combined effects of tidal, internal wave and wind mixing versus the stabilizing surface buoyancy induced by positive net air-sea heat fluxes at the sea surface.

Satellite imagery that recorded sea surface temperatures in the study region will also be used to interpret mooring data and model predictions.

Funded by: The Nuffield Foundation