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

河口与沿海海洋之间的交换是影响河口冲刷特征（停留时间）的关键动力驱动因素，并影响关键的生物和生物地球化学过程，如营养物和浮游植物浓度、缺氧/缺氧条件的发展以及河口/海洋界面的酸化。对推动河口交换流的局部力（即河流流量、垂直混合、由于测深引起的潮汐泵送、局地风）的广泛研究有助于提高对河口物理的认识。然而，海洋强迫的相对作用（即近海羽流、海岸困波、风暴诱发的装置和风驱动的上升流/下升流）还不太清楚，特别是在不同类型的河口之间。通过10种不同河口类型的数值模拟，研究了远海强迫对河口交换流的相对影响。将已有的、经过验证的、真实的数值模拟与半理想化和理想化的数值模拟相结合进行分析。了解远强迫对河口交换的影响具有广泛的科学价值，因为它对重要的生物和生物地球化学过程具有影响，更重要的是，它将有助于更好地了解河口如何响应未来海洋和大气条件的变化。此外，作为本研究的一部分，通过设计一个交互式可视化数值模拟工具，将研究与教育相结合。本研究采用了一种综合方法，并使用了许多科学家的模拟结果。这将河口研究界聚集在一起，以解决单个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包括科学家、教育研究人员和专家、科学和计算机科学中学教师、本科研究人员、博士后研究人员和研究生在内的科学家-教育工作者社区。对研究和教育界都有价值的工具，包括分析代码，一个交互式模拟可视化工具，附带课程框架课程内容，以及教学资源，将被开发并公开提供。关于远洋强迫对河口交换流的相对重要性以及不同河口类型之间的差异，目前还存在知识空白。本研究解决了这一差距，对现有的河口参数化进行了测试，并将结果映射到适当的参数空间。10种不同河口数值模型的综合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”。具体而言，建议的工作将(1)计算河口交换流量（由总交换流量TEF量化）跨越宽河口参数空间（由混合参数M和淡水弗劳德数Frf定义）；(2)量化不同类型和频率的远洋强迫对TEF的作用，以及不同河口类型和几何形状的远洋强迫；(3)利用模型输出优化设计观测阵列，用TEF测量这些过程；(4)将数值模拟输出的交互式可视化工具与课堂脚手架相结合，为研究与教育的整合提供教育工具和机会。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行了评估，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.