Shelf/Open-Ocean Interactions in the South African Region

本研究利用过程模拟研究了阿古拉斯洋流对南部非洲大陆架的影响、阿古拉斯海岸环流与南本格拉上升流区环流之间的连通性，以及这些大陆架区域对风强迫气候相关变化的敏感性。中心假设是陆架和深海的相互作用是由阿古拉斯涡旋的传输调制的。该项目将促进人们了解这些相互作用对阿古拉斯银行的影响，并将其推广到本格拉地区。了解南部非洲地区大陆架和深海的相互作用将有助于预测气候变化对区域生态系统的影响以及这些生态系统对气候变化的潜在反馈。本项目使用面向过程的模型来描述阿古拉斯海流、阿古拉斯海岸（AB）和南本格拉上升流区（SBUR）之间的陆架和开放海洋相互作用，并评估它们对气候变率和气候变化的敏感性。研究人员假设AC控制着AB的热盐结构，并且它是外大陆架和中大陆架区域环流的主要驱动力。风应力强迫控制了内大陆架的环流以及AB和SBUR之间的交换。该项目将调查涡旋驱动的AC和非洲大陆之间的相互作用，以及它们对AC路径上的混合和水团转化的影响。预计气候变化将增加陆架/开放海洋相互作用对两个海洋领域的影响。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This study uses process modeling to investigate the impact of the Agulhas Current on the southern African shelves, the connectivity between the circulations in the Agulhas Bank and the southern Benguela upwelling region, and the sensitivity of these shelf regions to climate related changes of the wind forcing. The central hypothesis is that shelf and deep-ocean interactions are modulated by the transit of Agulhas eddies. The project will advance understanding of the impact of these interactions on the Agulhas Bank and extend it to the Benguela region. Understanding shelf and deep-ocean interactions in the southern African region will contribute to the forecast of the impact of climate change on the regional ecosystems and the potential feedbacks that those ecosystems will have on the changing climate.This project uses process-oriented modeling to characterize the shelf and open-ocean interactions between the Agulhas Current, Agulhas Bank (AB), and Southern Benguela Upwelling Region (SBUR) and to evaluate their sensitivity to climate variability and climate change. The investigators hypothesize that the AC controls the thermohaline structure of the AB and that it is the main driver of the circulation in the outer- and middle-shelf regions. Wind stress forcing controls the circulation in the inner shelf as well as the exchanges between the AB and the SBUR. The project will investigate eddy-driven interactions between the AC and the African continent and their effect on mixing and water mass transformations along the AC path. It is anticipated that climate change will increase the impact of shelf/open ocean interactions on both oceanic realms.This 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.