Collaborative Research: Frontal Interaction and Atmospheric Forcing North of Cape Hatteras, an Analysis and Modeling Study

本研究将探讨一个shelfbreak射流与西部边界电流和相关的陆架水团离岸运输的相互作用的动力学。这种情况发生在北太平洋（黑潮/俄亥俄）、南大西洋（巴西/马尔维纳斯海流）和哈特拉斯角（墨西哥湾流/陆架断裂锋）。重点将放在哈特拉斯角以北的地区，那里的陆架断裂前缘与大陆架分离，并被墨西哥湾流带走。需要解决的科学问题是：--shelfbreak jet的响应（加速/减速和与大陆架分离）对湾流锋相对于陆架坡折运动的影响，--陆架坡折锋对强风应力和表面热损失强迫的响应--外陆架水被带入湾流的动力学--陆架动力学如何受到接近哈特拉斯角的狭窄陆架宽度的影响，现有的高分辨率数据集，包括在靠近哈特拉斯角的锋面相互作用（FINCH）计划期间收集的数据集，以及一个子系统，将利用区域数值模式来研究这些问题。数值模型将是一个？孩子吗？一个更大规模的模型，整个中大西洋湾的子域。包括海面温度和卫星测高在内的支持数据也将用于深入了解锋面运动及其对强迫的响应。知识价值这项工作对于了解已知平均近海运输区域中大陆架水输出的基本动态非常重要。该次区域模式将是重要的，在了解淡水运输和陆棚斜坡交换在这一领域的长期趋势。这一区域类似于其他重要的大型大陆架出口区域，包括北太平洋的黑潮/俄亥俄汇合区和南大西洋的马尔维纳斯/巴西海流汇合区。这也是一个有机碳从大陆架运输到深海的重要区域。更广泛的影响哈特拉斯地区拥有众多的商业渔业以及濒临灭绝的海洋哺乳动物物种。研究结果将传达给适当的渔业科学家和鲸类学家。建模工作将包括研究生的支持。Gawarkiewicz将继续在伍兹霍尔的儿童科学学校开展活动，他在那里担任董事会成员已有五年，并已开始购买海洋学仪器（包括配备视频的仪器），在课堂上广泛发言，协助招聘和评估教师，并帮助制定课程活动。

This study will examine the dynamics of the interaction of a shelfbreak jet with a western boundary current and associated offshore transport of shelf water masses. This situation occurs in the north Pacific (Kuroshio/Oyashio), south Atlantic (Brazil/Malvinas currents), and Cape Hatteras (Gulf Stream,/shelfbreak front). The focus will be on the region north of Cape Hatteras, where the shelfbreak front detaches from the continental shelf and becomes entrained in the Gulf Stream. The science questions to be addressed are:--The response of the shelfbreak jet (acceleration/deceleration and separation from the continental shelf) to motion of the Gulf Stream front relative to the shelfbreak,-- Response of the shelfbreak front to forcing by strong wind stress and surface heat loss-- Dynamics by which outer shelf water is entrained into the Gulf Stream-- How the shelf dynamics are affected by the narrowing shelf width approaching Cape Hatteras, with focus on the vorticity dynamics.A combination of existing high-resolution data sets including those collected during the Frontal Interactions Near Cape Hatteras (FINCH) program as well as a sub-regional numerical model to investigate these questions will be utilized. The numerical model will be a ?child? sub-domain of a larger scale model of the entire Middle Atlantic Bight. Supporting data including sea surface temperature and satellite-based altimetry will also be used to gain insight into frontal motions and their response to forcing.Intellectual MeritThis work will be of importance to understanding fundamental dynamics of shelf water export in a known region of mean offshore transport. The sub-regional model will be important in understanding long-term trends in fresh water transport and shelf-slope exchange in this area. This region is similar to other important regions of large shelf export including the Kuroshio/Oyashio convergence in the north Pacific and the Malvinas/Brazil current convergence in the South Atlantic. This is also a region where organic carbon transport from the shelf to the deep ocean is important.Broader ImpactsThe Hatteras region contains numerous commercial fisheries as well as endangered marine mammal species. Results will be communicated to appropriate fisheries scientists and cetologists. The modeling effort will include graduate student support. Gawarkiewicz will continue activities at the Children's School of Science at Woods Hole, where he has been on the Board of Directors for five years, and has initiated the purchase of oceanographic instruments (including a video-equipped ROV), spoken extensively in classes, assisted in recruitment and evaluation of teachers, and helped develop course activities for a number of classes.