scholarly journals Interannual variability of winter-spring temperature in the Middle Atlantic Bight: Relative contributions of atmospheric and oceanic processes

2016 ◽  
Vol 121 (6) ◽  
pp. 4209-4227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ke Chen ◽  
Young-Oh Kwon ◽  
Glen Gawarkiewicz
Keyword(s):  
Interannual Variability ◽  
Spring Temperature ◽  
Middle Atlantic Bight ◽  
Middle Atlantic

scholarly journals Seasonal and interannual variability of physical and biological dynamics at the Shelfbreak Front of the Middle Atlantic Bight: nutrient supply mechanisms

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1555-1590 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. He ◽  
K. Chen ◽  
K. Fennel ◽  
G. G. Gawarkiewicz ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Interannual Variability ◽  
Water Column ◽  
Circulation Model ◽  
Deep Ocean ◽  
Nutrient Supply ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Middle Atlantic Bight ◽  
Seasonal And Interannual Variability ◽  
Middle Atlantic

Abstract. A size-structured ecosystem model is coupled to a 3-dimensional, high-resolution circulation model to investigate the seasonal and interannual variability of physical and biological states and their driving mechanisms at the shelfbreak front of the Middle Atlantic Bight (MAB). Simulated surface chlorophyll fields compare favorably to the satellite observations and capture the shelfbreak biomass enhancement, which is one of the essential biological features of the region. The domain-wide upper water column nutrient content peaks in late winter-early spring. The phytoplankton spring bloom starts 1–2 months later, followed by a zooplankton bloom in early summer. Seasonal and interannual variability in hindcast shelfbreak nutrient supply is controlled by three processes: (1) local mixing that deepens the mixed layer and injects deep ocean nutrients into the upper water column; (2) alongshore nutrient transport by the shelfbreak jet and associated currents; and (3) nutrient upwelling associated with shelfbreak bottom boundary layer convergence. Interannual variability of physical and biological processes are highlighted by cross-shelf nutrient budget diagnostics for spring 2004 and 2007, which show not only complex vertical structure of various dynamical terms, but also significant variations in magnitude between the two years.

scholarly journals Seasonal and interannual variability of physical and biological dynamics at the shelfbreak front of the Middle Atlantic Bight: nutrient supply mechanisms

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 2935-2946 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. He ◽  
K. Chen ◽  
K. Fennel ◽  
G. G. Gawarkiewicz ◽  
D. J. McGillicuddy Jr
Keyword(s):  
Interannual Variability ◽  
Water Column ◽  
Ocean Circulation ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Nutrient Supply ◽  
Biophysical Model ◽  
Middle Atlantic Bight ◽  
Seasonal And Interannual Variability ◽  
Middle Atlantic ◽  
Biological Dynamics

Abstract. A high-resolution, 3-dimensional coupled biophysical model is used to simulate ocean circulation and ecosystem variations at the shelfbreak front of the Middle Atlantic Bight (MAB). Favorable comparisons between satellite observations and model hindcast solutions from January 2004 to November 2007 indicate the model has intrinsic skills in resolving fundamental physical and biological dynamics at the MAB shelfbreak. Seasonal and interannual variability of ocean physical and biological states and their driving mechanisms are further analyzed. The domain-wide upper water column nutrient content is found to peak in late winter-early spring. Phytoplankton spring bloom starts 1–2 months later, followed by zooplankton bloom in early summer. Our analysis shows the variability of shelfbreak nutrient supply is controlled by local mixing that deepens the mixed layer and injects deep ocean nutrients into the upper water column and alongshore nutrient transport by the shelfbreak jet and associated currents. Nutrient vertical advection associated with the shelfbreak bottom boundary layer convergence is another significant contributor. Spring mean nutrient budget diagnostics along the Nantucket transect are compared between nutrient rich 2004 and nutrient poor 2007. Physical advection and diffusion play the major role in determining strong interannual variations in shelfbreak nutrient content. The biological (source minus sink) term is very similar between these two years.

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