Dynamics of frontal meandering and related exchange processes at the shelfbreak south of New England

陆架断裂锋是中大西洋湾区域海洋学的最显著特征之一，无论是在物理学还是生物学方面。 与大陆架断裂前沿相关的过程本质上是非线性的，并在很宽的空间和时间尺度上表现出变化。 受局部不稳定性的影响，陆架断裂锋面急流沿着陆架断裂蜿蜒流动，并与风、大陆架涡旋和斜坡海洋暖心环相互作用。 陆架断裂区也有显着的沿着和跨大陆架通量的热量，盐和养分，受到正面蜿蜒，风和冲击暖芯环的修改。 尽管在该区域进行了多年的研究，但与陆架断裂前缘的弯曲、底部边界层动力学和跨陆架交换有关的许多科学问题仍然没有答案。 拟议的研究的主要目标是了解特征的货架打破锋面曲流南部的新英格兰，其基本动力学，锋面曲流和其他强迫机制的影响，跨锋面交流。 拟开展的研究将包括分析历史和未来的先锋阵列观测和理想化的数值模拟，以揭示新英格兰南部大幅度陆架断裂锋面弯曲的形成和演变，诊断锋面弯曲的特征，研究锋面弯曲、风和暖心环对陆架断裂底部边界层流动的影响，研究锋面弯曲、风和暖心环对锋面交换的影响;并检查锋面交换的沿陆架和垂直变化。智力优点：将使用数值模拟结合分析历史和即将到来的观测，以解决基本的科学问题，在新英格兰大陆架断裂的锋面曲流的动态和影响的锋面曲流和其他力量的跨锋面交流。 更广泛的影响：更好地了解陆架坡折前缘的弯曲和跨锋交换将为研究陆架坡折处的生物生产力和污染物扩散提供物理背景。 该项目对商业渔业和海洋保护具有影响。 该项目的成果将传达给公众和K- 12学生，并用于未来的外展工作，提供非正式的教育材料，包括视频和多媒体演示。

The shelf break front is one of the most salient features of the regional oceanography of the Middle Atlantic Bight, both in terms of its physics and biology. Processes associated with the shelf break front are inherently nonlinear and exhibit variations over a broad range of spatial and temporal scales. The shelf-break frontal jet, subject to local instabilities, meanders along the shelf break and interacts with winds, continental shelf eddies and slope sea warm-core rings. The shelf-break region also has significant along- and cross-shelf fluxes of heat, salt and nutrients that are subject to modification by frontal meandering, winds and impinging warm-core rings. Despite many years of study in the region, many scientific questions related to meandering of the shelf break front, bottom boundary layer dynamics, and cross-shelf exchange remain unanswered. The primary objectives of the proposed research are to understand characteristics of the shelf-break frontal meandering south of New England, its underlying dynamics, and effects of frontal meandering and other forcing mechanisms on cross-frontal exchanges. The proposed research will consist of analysis of historical and forthcoming Pioneer Array observations and idealized numerical simulations to: reveal the formation and evolution of large amplitude shelf-break frontal meandering south of New England; diagnose characteristics of the frontal meandering; investigate the effects of frontal meandering, winds and warm-core rings on flows in the shelf-break bottom boundary layer; investigate the effects of frontal meandering, winds and warm-core rings on cross-frontal exchange; and examine the along-shelf and vertical variations of the cross-frontal exchange. Intellectual merit: Numerical simulations will be used in conjunction with analysis of historical and forthcoming observations to address fundamental scientific questions concerning dynamics of frontal meandering at the New England shelf break and effects of frontal meandering and other forces on cross-frontal exchange. Broader impacts: Better understanding of meanders of the shelf break front and cross-frontal exchange will provide the physical background for studies of biological productivity and contaminant dispersal at the shelf break. This project has implications for commercial fisheries and marine conservation. Results of this project will be communicated to general public and K- 12 students, and also used for future outreach effort providing informal education materials including video and multi-media presentations.