Assessing the Impact of Tides and Atmospheric Fronts on Submesoscale Physical and Bio-Optical Distributions near a Coastal Convergence Zone

Remote Sensing

RichardW. Gould¹  Stephanie Anderson¹  HemanthaW. Wijesekera¹  M.David Lewis¹  TravisA. Smith¹  DavidW. Wang¹  Igor Shulman¹  GeoffreyB. Smith²  W.David Miller² 

[1] Ocean Sciences Division, US Naval Research Laboratory, Code 7300, Stennis Space Center, MS 39529, USA;Remote Sensing Division, US Naval Research Laboratory, Code 7200, Washington, DC 20375, USA;

关键词: coastal;    bio-optics;    hydrodynamic modeling;    remote sensing;    circulation;    currents;    tides;    winds;    bio-physical interactions;    time series;   

DOI  :  10.3390/rs12030553

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Optically-active constituents vary over short time and space scales in coastal waters, and they are impacted by a variety of complex, inter-related forcing processes. As part of the Integrated Coastal Bio-Optical Dynamics (ICoBOD) project, we conducted a field campaign in Mississippi Sound in the northern Gulf of Mexico during spring 2018 to examine the impact of the passage of atmospheric and tidal fronts on fine-scale physical and bio-optical property distributions in a shallow, dynamic, coastal environment. During a 25-day experiment, we deployed eight moorings over a roughly 7 × 7 km box encompassing a frontal zone, to collect a time series of physical and bio-optical measurements. We describe changes in diver visibility related to the passage of a short-duration, high-turbidity surface plume and nepheloid layer development/decay during a tidal cycle. Maximum nepheloid layer development was observed during low tide and lasted about 9−12 h. The strongest turbidity signal extended about 4−5 m above the bottom (approximately half of the water column), although anomalously elevated values were observed all the way to the surface. In addition, high-resolution (50 m) hydrodynamic model simulations provide insight into the frontal dynamics and aid interpretation of the observed patterns. Mooring observations confirmed model-predicted heat flux changes associated with the passage of an atmospheric cold front.

【 授权许可】

Unknown