CAREER: The relative importance of remote oceanic forcing on estuarine exchange flow across a broad parameter space - Numerical analysis integrated with visualization & educati

河口和沿海海洋之间的交换是影响河口的冲刷特征(停留时间)的关键动力因素，并影响营养物质和浮游植物浓度、缺氧/缺氧条件的发展以及整个河口/海洋界面的酸化等关键生物和生物地球化学过程。对推动河口交换流动的当地力量(即河流流动、垂直混合、水深测量引起的潮汐抽水、当地风)的广泛研究有助于增进对河口物理的了解。然而，海洋强迫的相对作用(即近海羽流、海岸捕获波、风暴诱导的构造和风驱动的上升流/下流流)较少被了解，特别是在不同类型的河口。通过对10种不同类型的河口进行数值模拟，了解远洋强迫对河口交换水流的相对影响。现有的、经过验证的、现实的数值模拟与半理想化和理想化的数值模拟配对进行分析。鉴于远距离强迫对重要的生物和生物地球化学过程的影响，了解远距离强迫对河口交换的影响具有广泛的科学价值，更重要的是，它将有助于更好地了解河口可能如何对未来海洋和大气条件的变化作出反应。此外，作为这项研究的一部分，通过设计用于数值模拟的交互式可视化工具，将研究与教育相结合。这项研究采用了一种综合的方法，并使用了许多科学家生成的模拟。这将河口研究界聚集在一起，解决个别河口研究无法回答的科学问题。这项工作的教育部分旨在建立一个科学家-教育工作者社区，其中包括科学家、教育研究人员和专家、中学科学和计算机科学教师、本科生研究人员、博士后研究人员和研究生。对研究界和教育界来说都是有价值的工具，包括分析代码、带有课程支架式课程内容的交互式模拟可视化工具和教学资源将被开发并公开提供。关于远程海洋强迫对河口交换流量的相对重要性以及这种重要性如何在不同的河口类型之间存在差异，存在着知识鸿沟。这项研究解决了这一差距，对现有的河口参数进行了测试，并将结果映射到适当的参数空间。综合10个不同的河口数值模式，构成了一种接近河口科学的新方法--研究各种河口，而不是一个“最喜欢的河口”。具体地说，建议的工作将：(1)计算河口交换流量(由总交换流量(TEF)量化)穿过一个宽广的河口参数空间(由混合参数M和淡水弗劳德数(FRF)定义)；(2)对不同类型和频率的远程强迫以及不同河口类型和几何形状的远洋强迫对TEF的作用进行量化；(3)利用模式输出优化设计用总交换流量测量这些过程的观测阵列；(4)将数值模拟输出的交互式可视化工具与课程脚手架相结合，以产生研究与教育相结合的教育工具和机会。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Exchange between estuaries and the coastal ocean is a key dynamical driver affecting the flushing characteristics of an estuary (residence time) and impact critical biological and biogeochemical processes such as nutrient and phytoplankton concentrations, development of anoxic/hypoxic conditions and acidification across the estuary/ocean interface. Extensive research on the local forces (i.e., river flow, vertical mixing, tidal pumping due to bathymetry, local winds) driving estuarine exchange flows has helped advance knowledge of estuarine physics. However, the relative role of oceanic forcing (i.e., offshore plumes, coastal trapped waves, storm induced set-up, and wind driven upwelling / downwelling) is less understood, particularly across the different estuary types. This study aims at understanding the relative influence of remote oceanic forcing on estuarine exchange flow using numerical modeling applied across 10 different estuary types. Existing, validated, realistic numerical simulations are paired with semi-idealized and idealized numerical simulations for analysis. The scientific value of understanding the influence of remote forcing on estuarine exchange is broad given its impacts on important biological and biogeochemical processes, and more importantly, it will afford improved understanding of how estuaries may respond to future changes of oceanic and atmospheric conditions. In addition, as part of this study, research is integrated with education through the design of an interactive visualization tool for numerical simulations. This study employs a synthesis approach and uses simulations generated by numerous scientists. This brings together the estuarine research community to address scientific questions that could not be answered by individual estuary studies. The educational component of the work aims at building a community of scientist - educators that include scientists, education researchers and experts, secondary school teachers in science and computer science, undergraduate researchers, a postdoctoral researcher, and a graduate student. Valuable tools for both the research and education communities, including analysis codes, an interactive simulation visualization tool accompanied with lesson scaffolding curriculum content, and teaching resources will be developed and made publicly available.There is a knowledge gap on the relative importance of remote oceanic forcing on estuarine exchange flow and how this varies across different estuary types. This gap is addressed in this study where existing estuarine parameterizations are tested, and the results are mapped onto the appropriate parameter space. The synthesis of 10 different estuarine numerical models constitutes a novel way of approaching estuarine science - studying a variety of estuaries rather than one "favorite estuary." Specifically, the proposed work will (1) Calculate the estuarine exchange flow (as quantified by the Total Exchange Flow, TEF) across a wide estuarine parameter space (defined by the mixing parameter, M, and freshwater Froude number, Frf); (2) Quantify the role of remote oceanic forcing on TEF for different types and frequencies of remote forcing and on different estuary types and geometries; (3) Use model output to optimally design an observational array to measure these processes with TEF; (4) Integrate an interactive visualization tool of numerical simulation output with lesson scaffolding to produce educational tools and opportunities for integration between research and educationThis award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.