Dynamics of the Mackenzie River plume on the inner Beaufort shelf during an open water period in summer

The oceanographic conditions of the Mackenzie River plume in the Arctic Ocean were examined during a 12-day period in August 2007. Field observations in the river channel and the delta region (2–6 m depth), ship-based observations on the shelf and satellite observations of sea surface temperatures indicate that movements of plume density fronts cause changes in water temperatures of over 10  C over a few days. We used a 1D model to compare the strength of stratification versus surface wind stress, and a 3D numerical model to simulate the plume motions under forcing from the river flows, local wind and water level variations from tides and wind-driven surge. The results indicate that the coastal region is stratified with a ∼2 m thick surface plume even in water depths of 3–4 m, resulting in strong vertical variation of horizontal currents. Moderate easterly winds of 5–10 m/s are sufficient to induce offshore transport of the surface plume and onshore transport of the deeper shelf water, leading to large fluctuations in temperature and salinity in the coastal region. This study examined a period of offshore transport and mean water level set-down, and indicates the rapid response of the plume to wind over the shallow delta.     

Dynamics of a mesoscale eddy off Cape Ann, Massachusetts in May 2005

Observations and numerical modeling indicate that a mesoscale anti-cyclonic eddy formed south of Cape Ann at the northern entrance of Massachusetts Bay (MB) during May 2005, when large river discharges in the western Gulf of Maine and two strong Nor'easters passing through the regions led to an unprecedented toxic Alexandrium fundyense bloom (red tide). Both model results and field measurements suggest that the western Maine Coastal Current separated from Cape Ann around May 7–8, and the eddy formed on around May 10. The eddy was trapped at the formation location for about a week before detaching from the coastline and moving slowly southward on May 17. Both model results and theoretical analysis suggest that the separation of the coastal current from the coast and subsequent eddy formation were initiated at the subsurface by an adverse pressure gradient between Cape Ann and MB due to the higher sea level set up by onshore Ekman transport and higher density in downstream MB. After the formation, the eddy was maintained by the input of vorticity transported by the coastal current from the north, and local vorticity generation around the cape by the horizontal gradients of wind-driven currents, bottom stress, and water density induced by the Merrimack River plume. Observations and model results indicate that the anti-cyclonic eddy significantly changed the pathway of nutrient and biota transport into the coastal areas and enhanced phytoplankton including Alexandrium abundances around the perimeter of the eddy and in the western coast of MB.     

A three-dimensional numerical study of river plume mixing processes in Otsuchi Bay,Japan

The three-dimensional numerical model SUNTANS is applied to investigate river plume mixing in Otsuchi Bay, an estuary located along the Sanriku Coast of Iwate, Japan. Results from numerical simulations with different idealized forcing scenarios (barotropic tide, baroclinic tide, and diurnal wind) are compared with field observations to diagnose dominant mixing mechanisms. Under the influence of combined barotropic, baroclinic and wind forcing, the model reproduces observed salinity profiles well and achieves a skill score of 0.94. In addition, the model forced by baroclinic internal tides reproduces observed cold-water intrusions in the bay, and barotropic tidal forcing reproduces observed salt wedge dynamics near the river mouths. Near these river mouths, vertically sheared flows are generated due to the interaction of river discharge and tidal elevations. River plume mixing is quantified using vertical salt flux and reveals that mixing near the vicinity of the river mouth, is primarily generated by the barotropic tidal forcing. A 10 ms^?1 strong diurnal breeze compared to a 5 ms^?1 weak breeze generates higher mixing in the bay. In contrast to the barotropic forcing, internal tidal (baroclinic) effects are the dominant mixing mechanisms away from the river mouths, particularly in the middle of the bay, where a narrow channel strengthens the flow speed. The mixing structure is horizontally asymmetric, with the middle and northern parts exhibiting stronger mixing than the southern part of the bay. This study identifies several mixing hot-spots within the bay and is of great importance for the coastal aquaculture system.     

Spreading of the Amur River plume in the Amur Liman,Sakhalin Gulf,and the Strait of Tartary

This work focuses on a study of the Amur plume spreading during ice-free periods in the Amur Liman and adjacent areas of Sakhalin Gulf and the Strait of Tartary. It was found from MERIS/EnviSat satellite imagery, MERRA wind reanalysis, and Amur discharge data in 2002–2011 that regular transport of Amur plume waters from the Amur Liman to Sakhalin Gulf occurs in June–October. This process is caused by flood discharge of the Amur River in the absence of strong northern winds or when southern winds are strong during periods of moderate discharge. Estimates for the frequency and duration of this process have shown that it occurs on average during half of the days in June–October and can continue up to 2.5 months. Spreading of the Amur plume to the Strait of Tartary is a significantly rarer event. This process takes place only during the Amur’s freshet periods and for strong western wind forcing, which induces southward Ekman transport. The average duration of this process during the ice-free season is estimated as 15 days; however, in individual years, it can be as short as several days.     

Variabilité du panache turbide de la Gironde par télédétection. Effets des facteurs climatiques

The Gironde estuary (France) discharges to the ocean an important amount of suspended particulate matter in the form of turbid plumes. The surface plume is more particularly studied from coastal oceanographic surveys and NOAA/AVHRR satellite data collected during a French programme of coastal oceanography (PNOC-Atlantic). The AVHRR reflectances are atmospherically corrected according to an algorithm based on the clear water concept. The comparison with suspended sediment concentrations are realised by direct and indirect calibrations. The correlations obtained show that at a same concentration the reflectance varies, probably because of varying particle (floc) size and composition. The shape and the surface measured from low resolution (4 km × 4 km) and high resolution (1 km × 1 km) AVHRR data are then compared to the forcings introduced by the fluvial output, the tide, neap and spring tide and the wind variations. The latter have an important effect on the orientation of the distal part of the turbid plume.     

Effect of Salinity and Currents on Sea Level Variation Along the Indian Coast: A Numerical Study

The process of upwelling/sinking and associated sea level variations are seen as a response of coastal ocean to pure wind stress forcing. Further,precipitation and monsoonal floods, apart from the marine meteorological parameters, are expected to influence the sea level fluctuations along the coast. This study comprises determining the sea level from the various parameters together with the pure wind stress forcing, which is compared with the observed cycle. However, it is found that there is considerable difference between the computations and observations. This suggests that the sea level is dependent not just on the local forcing alone, but also on the induced background circulation as well. For example, the sea level changes along the east coast of India, particularly the northern region, are more sensitive to freshwater discharge from various rivers joining the Bay of Bengal. This is due to more frequently occurring pre- and postmonsoon cyclonic storms and the associated surges in the Bay of Bengal as compared to the Arabian Sea. Hence the salinity effects are particularly important in the coastal waters off the east coast of India during monsoon months (June-September). For the west coast of India, however, it is expected that the large-scale coastal circulation may play a role in determining sea level changes in addition to other forcings. The salinity effects are negligible along the west coast in the absence of any major river systems that join the Arabian Sea. The local advection currents caused by the offshore directed freshwater discharge from various estuaries joining the coastal bay also seemed to influence the sea level. In order to elucidate the essential dynamics involved and to study the effect of the remote forcing, a three-dimensional baroclinic, nonlinear numerical model is used with appropriate open boundary conditions. The local effect of the current has been incorporated in the west coast model by means of opening a channel at Cochin through which the rainwater is carried away to the model ocean. The low saline plume, cascading from north along the east cost of India, has been incorporated in the east coast model through a proper forcing applied at the northern boundary of the model. With the inclusion of these remote forcings in the models, the disagreement between the simulations and the observations is minimized.     

Effect of Salinity and Currents on Sea Level Variation Along the Indian Coast: A Numerical Study

The process of upwelling/sinking and associated sea level variations are seen as a response of coastal ocean to pure wind stress forcing. Further,precipitation and monsoonal floods, apart from the marine meteorological parameters, are expected to influence the sea level fluctuations along the coast. This study comprises determining the sea level from the various parameters together with the pure wind stress forcing, which is compared with the observed cycle. However, it is found that there is considerable difference between the computations and observations. This suggests that the sea level is dependent not just on the local forcing alone, but also on the induced background circulation as well. For example, the sea level changes along the east coast of India, particularly the northern region, are more sensitive to freshwater discharge from various rivers joining the Bay of Bengal. This is due to more frequently occurring pre- and postmonsoon cyclonic storms and the associated surges in the Bay of Bengal as compared to the Arabian Sea. Hence the salinity effects are particularly important in the coastal waters off the east coast of India during monsoon months (June-September). For the west coast of India, however, it is expected that the large-scale coastal circulation may play a role in determining sea level changes in addition to other forcings. The salinity effects are negligible along the west coast in the absence of any major river systems that join the Arabian Sea. The local advection currents caused by the offshore directed freshwater discharge from various estuaries joining the coastal bay also seemed to influence the sea level. In order to elucidate the essential dynamics involved and to study the effect of the remote forcing, a three-dimensional baroclinic, nonlinear numerical model is used with appropriate open boundary conditions. The local effect of the current has been incorporated in the west coast model by means of opening a channel at Cochin through which the rainwater is carried away to the model ocean. The low saline plume, cascading from north along the east cost of India, has been incorporated in the east coast model through a proper forcing applied at the northern boundary of the model. With the inclusion of these remote forcings in the models, the disagreement between the simulations and the observations is minimized.     

The decomposition and simulation of the longitudinal circulation in a coastal lagoon

Current measurements during a 32-day study period in late spring, 1977, are used to quantify the magnitude and relative importance of tidal and wind-driven motion in the interior of the Indian River lagoon, on the Atlantic coast of Florida. Harmonic analysis of the total longitudinal flow along the axis of the lagoon isolates the tidal component of the current; non-tidal flow is revealed by subtracting the tidal current from the total current, and making corrections for non-linear relationships between the current and both surface wind stress and bottom friction. A one-layer, one-dimensional model is developed to simulate wind drift. A quadratic bottom friction term with a drag coefficient of 15 × 10^?3 gives results which compare most favourably with observations. Results indicate that tidal forcing explains approximately 45% of the total variance at the study site, 25 km from the nearest inlet. Local wind forcing accounts for 44% of the non-tidal flow. The remainder of the variance is attributed to freshwater outflow through the lagoon and non-local forcing.     

Black carbon in marine particulate organic carbon: Inputs and cycling of highly recalcitrant organic carbon in the Gulf of Maine

To increase our understanding of the roles of black carbon (BC), a highly sorptive and recalcitrant material, we measured BC concentrations and fluxes in marine particulate organic carbon (POC) out of the water column in the Gulf of Maine (GoM), a representative coastal area downwind of important BC sources of the Northeastern United States. Concentrations ranged from < 0.1 to 16 μg/L in the spring and late summer, typically contributing between 1 and 20% of the POC. Water-column export fluxes were near 10 g_BC/m²∙yr. These observations suggest that (a) up to 50% of the “molecularly uncharacterized” POC in this region's seawater is combustion-derived BC, and (b) the “bioavailabilities” of hydrophobic pollutants like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) would be influenced substantially by sorption to BC. The observed BC spatial distributions imply that a large part of the BC was carried offshore by wind and that much of it is accumulated in the coastal sediments. On a global scale, these results suggest the GoM and other coastal areas with similar BC loadings accumulate significant amounts of highly recalcitrant organic carbon that remineralizes on geological time scales in the world's oceans.     

Coastal upwelling in the Gelendzhik area of the Black Sea: Effect of wind and dynamics

Long series data of a thermistor chain in the Black Sea coastal zone near Gelendzhik were analyzed. A thermistor chain installed 1 km offshore and at a depth of 22 m. There are full and incomplete upwelling events observed. The study of upwelling genesis based on: wind speed data from the NCEP/CFSR reanalysis and Gelendzhik weather station, velocity and direction of coastal currents measured by ADCP profiler moored on the bottom near the thermistor chain. Over the whole observation period (warm seasons of 2013–2015), more than 40 events of upwelling were registered four of them were full upwellings, when presence of under-thermocline water was observed near the sea surface. For every upwelling event, conditions prior to the changes in thermic structure, were analyzed. It is found that full upwelling generally occur under synergistic wind and current forcing. Fairly strong forcing of one of these factors is sufficient for partial upwelling to occur.     

A numerical model investigation of the residual circulation in Hauraki Gulf,New Zealand

The homogeneous residual circulation in Hauraki Gulf arising from the tides, steady winds, and oceanic inflows is considered by use of a depth‐averaged 2‐dimensional numerical model. Vertical current structure of the wind‐driven circulation is derived by using the computed wind‐induced sea surface slopes, the wind stress, and a prescribed vertical eddy viscosity. Tidal residual circulation is weak, less than 0.01 ms^‐1 over most of the Gulf. The response of the Gulf to wind‐forcing indicates a preference for north‐west/south‐east directed winds, the flow through the Gulf being more than 3 times as strong as for winds from other directions. Surface currents are mainly in the wind direction, but subsurface currents reveal closed circulation cells in near‐coastal areas. Simple oceanic inflows give rise to water movements which penetrate to the inner part of the Gulf.     

超强台风“威马逊”作用下红河三角洲海域水动力环境变化的数值研究

201409号超强台风"威马逊"于2014年7月从北部湾北部过境,对红河三角洲近岸海域的水动力环境产生重要影响。本文基于Delft3D建立三维潮、流、浪耦合数值模型,对红河三角洲水位、海流及波浪对台风的响应变化进行模拟。结果表明:威马逊台风期间,红河三角洲海域风速增大约6倍,风向由偏南风转为偏北风,表底层流速均受影响,其中表层变化较大,表现为北分量流速明显增大,流向变为偏南向,与风向主分量变化有关;波高增大为正常海况的9倍,时间变化与风速一致。本研究获得了从北部湾北部海域过境的台风影响下红河三角洲海域水动力环境的响应变化特征,对该海域的物质输运研究及海洋工程建设有重要意义。     

Evaluation of a dynamically downscaled atmospheric reanalyse in the prospect of forcing long term simulations of the ocean circulation in the Gulf of Lions

The paper evaluates atmospheric reanalysis as possible forcing of model simulations of the ocean circulation inter-annual variability in the Gulf of Lions in the Western Mediterranean Sea between 1990 and 2000. The sensitivity of the coastal atmospheric patterns to the model resolution is investigated using the REMO regional climate model (18 km, 1 h), and the recent global atmospheric reanalysis ERA40 (125 km, 6 h). At scales from a few years to a few days, both atmospheric data sets exhibit a very similar weather, and agreement between REMO and ERA40 is especially good on the seasonal cycle and at the daily variability scale. At smaller scales, REMO reproduces more realistic spatio-temporal patterns in the ocean forcing: specific wind systems, particular atmospheric behaviour on the shelf, diurnal cycle, sea-breeze. Ocean twin experiments (1990–1993) clearly underline REMO skills to drive dominant oceanic processes in this microtidal area. Finer wind patterns induce a more realistic circulation and hydrology of the shelf water: unique shelf circulation, upwelling, temperature and salinity exchanges at the shelf break. The hourly sampling of REMO introduces a diurnal forcing which enhances the behaviour of the ocean mixed layer. In addition, the more numerous wind extremes modify the exchanges at the shelf break: favouring the export of dense shelf water, enhancing the mesoscale variability and the interactions of the along slope current with the bathymetry.     

Nearshore retention of upwelled waters north and south of Point Reyes (northern California)—Patterns of surface temperature and chlorophyll observed in CoOP WEST

Retentive embayments can be found near capes in upwelling regions, where they stand out as relatively warm features with higher chlorophyll a concentrations than surrounding waters. Within the area of the “Wind Events and Shelf Transport” study site (WEST) from the Gulf of the Farallones to Point Arena (37.5–39°N and 122.5–124°W), we describe two retentive embayments, extending approximately 20 km north of Point Reyes, and 30 km south of Point Reyes in the northern Gulf of the Farallones. These areas are identifiable from chlorophyll a (SeaWiFS) and sea-surface temperature (MODIS) satellite radiometry. Additional data from moorings and drifters were used to further characterize these retentive features. The persistence of these features is on time scales between 2 and 10 days, determined from time-series analysis of mooring data for chlorophyll and temperature. The alongshore wind stress is negatively correlated with chlorophyll and temperature mooring values. The time scale of persistence of these retentive features was similar to both the upwelling-relaxation timescale and the timescale of phytoplankton bloom development. The WEST region is notable in that the spring and summer is subject to the strongest wind stress along the US west coast, yet the coastal waters are highly productive. Based on our observations, we suggest that the apparent persistence of high biomass coastal waters in this strongly advective and wind-dominated system may be partially explained by the presence of retentive features identified in this study.     

A numerical study of the effects of wind forcing on the Chile Current System

A high-resolution, multi-level, primitive equation ocean model is used to examine the response of the coastal region from 22.5°S to 35°S of the Chile Current System to both equatorward and climatological wind forcing. The results from both types of forcing show that an equatorward surface current, a poleward undercurrent, upwelling, meanders, filaments and eddies develop in response to the predominant equatorward wind forcing. When climatological wind forcing is used, an offshore branch of the equatorward surface current is also generated. These features are consistent with available observations of the Chile Current System. The model results support the hypothesis that wind forcing is an important mechanism for generating currents, eddies and filaments in the Chile eastern boundary current system and in other eastern boundary current regions which have predominantly equatorward wind forcing.     

Episodic riverine influence on surface DIC in the coastal Gulf of Maine

Anomalously high precipitation and river discharge during the spring of 2005 caused considerable freshening and depletion of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in surface waters along the coastal Gulf of Maine. Surface pCO₂ and total alkalinity (TA) were monitored by repeated underway sampling of a cross-shelf transect in the western Gulf of Maine (GOM) during 2004–05 to examine how riverine fluxes, mixing, and subsequent biological activity exert control on surface DIC in this region. Most of the variability in surface DIC concentration was attributable to mixing of low DIC river water with higher DIC, saline GOM waters, but net biological uptake of DIC was significant especially during the spring and summer seasons. The extent and persistence of the coastal freshwater intrusion exerted considerable influence on net carbon dynamics. Integrated over the 10-m surface layer of our study region (∼5 × 10⁴ km²), net biological DIC uptake was 0.48 × 10⁸ mol C during April–July of 2004 compared to 1.33 × 10⁸ mol C during April–July of 2005. We found the temporal signature and magnitude of DIC cycling to be different in adjacent plume-influenced and non-plume regions. Extreme events such as the freshwater anomaly observed in 2005 will affect mean estimates of coastal carbon fluxes, thus budgets based on short time series of observations may be skewed and should be viewed with caution.     

A modeling study of the characteristics and mechanism of the westward coastal current during summer in the northwestern South China Sea

The characteristics and dynamical mechanism of summer-time coastal current over the North South China Sea shelf have been investigated based on a high resolution unstructuredgrid finite volume community ocean model (FVCOM). Modeldata comparison demonstrates that the model describes and explains well the coastal dynamics over the North South China Sea shelf. The coastal current on the North South China Sea shelf is greatly influenced by monsoon and the freshwater discharge of the Pearl River. Strong southwesterly wind drives the coastal current northeastward. However, under weak southwest monsoon, the coastal current west of the Pearl River estuary (PRE) advects toward the southwest, and splits into two parts when reaching east of the Qiongzhou Strait, with one branch entering the Gulf of Tonkin through the Qiongzhou Strait, transporting low salinity water into the Gulf of Tonkin, and the other part flows cyclonic and interacts with the northeastward current around southeast of Hainan Island, forming a cyclonic eddy east of the Qiongzhou Strait. A variety of model experiments focused on freshwater discharge, wind forcing, tidal rectification, and stratification are performed to study the physical mechanism of the southwestward coastal current which is usually against the summer wind. Process-oriented experiment results indicate that the southwest monsoon and freshwater discharge are important factors influencing the formation of southwestward coastal current during summer.     

Recent climate forcing and physical oceanographic changes in Northern Hemisphere regions: A review and comparison of four marine ecosystems

As part of a project comparing the structure and function of four marine ecosystems off Norway and the United States, this paper examines the oceanographic responses to climate forcing, with emphasis on recent changes. The four Northern Hemisphere ecosystems include two in the Pacific Ocean (Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska) and two in the Atlantic Ocean (Georges Bank/Gulf of Maine and the Barents/Norwegian Seas). Air temperatures, wind forcing and heat fluxes over the four regions are compared as well as ocean hydrography and sea-ice conditions where seasonal sea ice is found. The long-term interannual variability in air temperatures, winds and net heat fluxes show strong similarity between adjacent ecosystems and within subregions of an ecosystem, but no significant correlations between Pacific and Atlantic ecosystems and few across the Atlantic. In spite of the lack of correlation between climate forcing and ocean conditions between most of the ecosystems, recent years have seen record or near record highs in air and sea temperatures in all ecosystems. The apparent causes of the warming differ. In the Atlantic, they appear to be due to advection, while in the Pacific temperatures are more closely linked to air-sea heat exchanges. Advection is also responsible for the observed changes in salinity in the Atlantic ecosystems (generally increasing salinity in the Barents and Norwegian Seas and decreasing in the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank) while salinity changes in the Gulf of Alaska are largely related to increased local runoff.     

基于高精度海洋动力模型的珠江口羽状流季节和年际变化规律研究

基于高精度海洋动力模型FVCOM (finite-volume community ocean model), 模拟分析了1999—2010年珠江口羽状流的季节和年际变化规律, 并结合经验正交函数(empirical orthogonal function, EOF)分析探讨了影响珠江口羽状流扩展变化的主要动力因子。采用模拟时段内的现场观测数据对多年模拟结果进行验证, 结果表明模型具有较高的精度, 能够较好地模拟珠江口羽状流的扩展变化规律。模拟结果显示, 珠江口羽状流存在显著的季节变化。夏季, 受大径流和西南风的影响, 羽状流的扩展呈现双向特征, 即粤西沿岸扩展和粤东离岸扩展同时存在, 扩展范围最大; 冬季, 径流衰减为最小值, 风场转变为强烈的东北风, 羽状流被紧紧挤压在西岸, 形成狭窄的条带状, 扩展范围最小; 春、秋两季属于过渡季节, 羽状流扩展情况类似, 均表现为沿岸向粤西扩展。年际变化层面, 夏季羽状流的年际变化最为显著, 呈现粤东扩展占优型、近似对称型和粤西扩展占优型三种形态; 春季羽状流的年际变化次之, 羽状流的差异主要体现在珠江口和粤西海域; 秋、冬两季羽状流的年际变化较小, 尤以冬季最小。EOF分析的第一模态可以解释整体变化的91.2%, 反映了径流量对珠江口羽状流的影响; 第二模态可以解释整体变化的4.1%, 反映了盛行风对珠江口羽状流的影响。     

Subtidal Flow Patterns in Western Florida Bay

Recent observations using moored current meters, shipboard ADCP transects, salinity mapping and drifters have been used to study the residual circulation including wind drift in western Florida Bay.Rapid, nearly synoptic surveys of salinity over a large area was an effective tracer-mapping technique, when salinity gradients were sufficiently strong, and provided qualitative information on Lagrangian water motion for the entire study area. The salinity maps indicated a general south-eastward advection, which was only subordinate to tidal mixing in a narrow zone adjacent to the Florida Keys.Drifter data collected simultaneously, allowed quantitative estimates to be added to the transport pattern suggested by salinity maps. The selectively deployed drifters yielded estimates of total drift velocities. In addition, moored current meters and shipboard current profiling were used to determine the distribution of flow across the mouth of the bay facing the Gulf of Mexico and the transport through Long Key Channel, a major connection between the bay and the Atlantic Ocean.Analysis showed that from 64 to over 92% of the drifter trajectory variances could be explained by the combination of a local wind drift, expressed in terms of a wind drift factor multiplied by the surface shear velocity, and an ambient current. For a 1 m high drifter deployed at the surface of the water column, the wind drift factor was found to be approximately 0·125m, making the drift speed roughly equal to 0·45% of wind speed. The mean drifter speeds were linearly proportional to mean transport estimates derived from the current meter observations in Long Key Channel, enhancing confidence in both data sets.The total south-eastward directed residual current varied between 100 and 5000 m day⁻¹and was weaker in summer than in winter, when southward winds associated with periodic passage of cold fronts boost the residual flow. The estimated contribution from local wind drift varied between 500 m day⁻¹in summer to 1000 m day⁻¹in winter. The remaining contribution to the observed Lagrangian residual circulation in western Florida Bay is caused by other forcing, including tidal rectification, remote wind forcing and large-scale current systems (the Gulf Stream and Florida Current systems).