Ocean Dynamics in the Northwest Atlantic

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My long-term goal is to understand the physical and ecological dynamics of the Northwest Atlantic through observational and modeling studies of the influences on the ocean circulation and water properties. Improved understanding of ocean dynamics will inform environmental policy and enhance operations for ocean users such as fish harvesters, shipping companies and others exploiting ocean resources. Key outcomes will be: (1) an improved ability to observe the ocean through the development of new sampling systems and innovative approaches to their use; (2) improved understanding of tidal and wind-forced dynamics of coastal embayments and (3) direct measurements of the transport of heat and freshwater interpreted in the larger-scale circulation of the Northwest Atlantic. The time scales of interest range from the daily to the seasonal, interannual and decadal. The novelty of this work lies in the combination of experimental, and numerical and modeling approaches. The approach involves integrating innovative observational oceanographic studies with advanced numerical modeling. We will develop new technologies to improve our ability to sample in the ice-covered waters of the Northwest Atlantic, integrating gliders and moorings, to measure oceanographic conditions in the Northwest Atlantic. We will combine historical data with data from our field studies, including results from our mooring and glider deployments on the shelf and in the coastal bays and fjords. The field sampling will benefit from ongoing national and international programs, such as the gas exchange study (Vitals) and the meridional overturning circulation study (OSNAP). Numerical models will be used to integrate the data and to explore key processes buried in the observations. We will work with existing models and develop new models and modeling approaches to improve our understanding of the data. New models and modeling approaches will enable the oceans community to better predict ocean features, such as the response of coastal sea level to the passage of a hurricane. The benefits to Canada of this research will include new techniques, such as using ocean gliders to survey icebergs, that could be used by companies exploring for oil and gas in ice-infested waters. The improved understanding of ocean dynamics and improved models will enable enhanced prediction of the oceans response to changing climate, including changing decadal atmospheric patterns. The direct measurements of ocean transport in the Northwest Atlantic will be linked with other North Atlantic observations to build an understanding of the large-scale connections of ocean transport related to both local and non-local events. Integration of these approaches into a single program will yield a comprehensive interpretation of the role of the critical physical processes for ocean and ecosystem dynamics.