The Role of Fronts in Estuarine Circulation and Transport: A Research and Education Career Development Plan

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StaceyOCE-0094317This CAREER program effort is a long-term study of estuarine fronts in San Francisco Bay. Over a series of years, during the summer months, moored ADCPs will be deployed in regions where fronts of different type are known to exist. Short, one-day experiments will be performed using shipboard mapping, microstructure profiling, and dye studies of dispersion in and around the fronts. The dominant question to be asked is 'to what extent do fronts influence mixing and transport in estuaries'? Fronts limit mixing and cross-frontal transport, they encourage along-front transport, and they may enhance mixing during frontolysis. The proposed work will identify the relative importance of these processes. The educational component will include development of a display and visual experiments at the San Francisco Exploratorium and development of field opportunities for graduate students interested in environmental fluid dynamics.