Collaborative Research: An Observational and Modeling Study of the Physical Processes Driving Exchanges Between the Shelf and the Deep Ocean At Cape Hatteras
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
Collaborators
University of Georgia Skidaway Institute of Oceanography: Catherine Edwards, Dana Savidge
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill: John Bane, Harvey Seim
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution: Magdalena Andres, Glen Gawarkiewicz, Robert Todd
Funding Period
April 2016 – March 2022
Description
Subtropical and subpolar oceanic gyre boundaries are characterized by confluent western boundary currents and convergence in the adjacent shelf and slope waters. Together, they lead to large net export of shelf waters to the deep ocean, and complex, bidirectional shelf-deep ocean exchange, in response to strong forcing typical of midlatitude western ocean margins. Shelf-deep ocean exchange processes at such dynamic sites remain poorly understood, due in part to the technical challenge of resolving broad ranges of relevant spatial and temporal scales. This project will deploy fixed, mobile, and remote observational platforms in combination with idealized and realistic numerical simulations to investigate exchange processes near Cape Hatteras. The sampling array will provide unprecedented temporal and spatial resolution in a region of large episodic export and exchange.
Results
Work is in progress.
This web site explains the project to the public.
Publications
Andres, M. (2016) On the recent destabilization of the Gulf Stream path downstream of Cape Hatteras, Geophys. Res. Lett., 43, doi: 10.1002/2016GL069966 [PDF] [Supplement]
Andres, M., M. Muglia, F. Bahr, and J. Bane (2018) Continuous flow of upper Labrador Sea water around Cape Hatteras, Scientific Reports, 8:4494, doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-22758-z
Bane, J., R. He, M. Muglia, Y. Gong, and C. Lowcher (2017) Marine hydrokinetic energy from western boundary currents, Annual Review of Marine Science, 9:7.1-7.19, doi: 10.1146/annurev-marine-010816-
Han, Lu, H. Seim, J. Bane, R. E. Todd, and M. Muglia (2021) A Shelf Water Cascading Event near Cape Hatteras, Journal of Physical Oceanography, doi: 10.1175/JPO-D-20-0156.1
He., R., A. C. Todd, C. Lembke, T. Kellison, C. Taylor, and D. A. Mann (2018) Cross-shelf exchange associated with the Gulf Stream in the South Atlantic Bight: Direct observations using an autonomous underwater glider, Marine Technology Society Journal, doi: 10.4031/MTSJ.52.3.5
Li, B., A. Queiroz, J. F. DeCarolis, J. Bane, R. He, A. G. Keeler, V. S. Neary (2017) The economics of electricity generation from Gulf Stream currents, Energy, 134:649-658, doi: 10.1016/j.energy.2017.06.048
McGee, L., and R. He (2018) Mesoscale and submesoscale mechanisms behind asymmetric cooling and phytoplankton blooms induced by hurricanes: A comparison between an open ocean case and a continental shelf sea case, Ocean Dynamics, doi: 10.1007/s10236-018-1203-3
Seim, H. E., D. Savidge, M. Andres, J. Bane, C. Edwards, G. Gawarkiewicz, R. He, R. E. Todd, M. Muglia, J. B. Zambon, L. Han, and S. Mao. Overview of the Processes driving Exchange At Cape Hatteras (PEACH) Program. Oceanography. (submitted)
Yuan, Y, R. Castelao, and R. He (2017) Variability in along-shelf and cross-shelf circulation in the South Atlantic Bight, Continental Shelf Research, 134(2017) 52-62, doi: 10.1016/j.csr.2017.01.006
Zeng, X., A. Adams, M. Roffer, R. He (2018) Potential connectivity among spatially distinct management zones for bonefish (Albula vulpes) via larval dispersal, Environmental Biology of Fishes, doi: 10.1007/s10641-018-0826-z
Zeng, X. and R. He (2016) Gulf Stream variability and a triggering mechanism of its large meander in the South Atlantic Bight, Journal of Geophysical Research – Oceans, 121, doi: 10.1002/2016JC012077
Media
“Team Tracks Ocean Energy From Land, Sea,” by C. Kozak, May 4, 2017 in the Coastal Review Online. link
The PEACH Project: Processes Driving Exchange at Cape Hatteras video. link
Beyond the Gulf Stream video. link
Presentations
“Investigation of Shelf-Ocean Exchange Pathways Near Cape Hatteras, NC Based on Realistic Ocean Model Simulations,” by S. Mao at the 2018 Mid-Atlantic Bight Physical Oceanography and Meteorology Meeting.
“From Top To Bottom: An Investigation of Wintertime Atmosphere-Ocean Interaction in the Vicinity of the Gulf Stream in January 2018,” by J. Zambon at the 2018 Mid-Atlantic Bight Physical Oceanography and Meteorology Meeting.
Ocean Sciences Meeting 2018, hosted by the American Geophysical Union, the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography, and The Oceanography Society. Portland, OR, USA. Presentations by this project’s researchers:
- POSTER: Compact WERA HF-Radar Installations at Cape Hatteras Contributing to Glider Control, Feature Tracking and Examination of Cross-shelf Exchange Processes. Authors: G. Matthais, D. Savidge, C. Edwards, H. Seim, S. Haines, M. Muglia, L.Han, N. DiSimone.
- TOWN HALL: Ocean Observatories Initiative Facility Board Town Hall. Panelists include R. He.
- PRESENTATION: Marine Biogeochemical Responses to a Large Gulf Stream Offshore Meander. Authors: H. Zong, R. He, and X. Zeng.
- POSTER: The Potential for Sustained Gulf Stream Monitoring With Autonomous Underwater Gliders (Invited). Authors: R. Todd and J. Heiderich.
- PRESENTATION: Evidence of a Fast-Track for Upper Labrador Sea Water at Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Authors: M. Muglia, M. Andres, F. Bahr, J. Bane, H. Seim.
- PRESENTATION: The Transport of the Gulf Stream Along the U.S. East Coast. Authors: J. Heiderich and R. Todd.
- POSTER: Variation in the Position and Character of the Hatteras Front. Authors: H. Seim, C. Edwards, S. Haines, L. Han, R. Todd, M. Muglia, D. Savidge, G. Gawarkiewicz, J. Bane.
- POSTER: Modeling Study of Physical-Biogeochemical Processes Associated With the “Green River” in the Gulf of Mexico. Authors: R. He and H. Zong.
- POSTER: Modeling Processes Driving Exchanges Near Cape Hatteras, NC. Authors: X. Zeng, R. He, and J. Bane.
- POSTER: Transient Response of the Gulf Stream to Multiple Hurricanes in 2017. Authors: R. Todd, T. Asher, J. Heiderich, J. Bane, and R. Luettich.
- PRESENTATION: Investigation of Precipitation on Upper-Ocean Stratification During Hurricanes Irene (2011) and Harvey (2017). Authors: J. Zambon, R. He, J. C. Warner, and H. Zong.
- PRESENTATION: Variability of the Hydrography and Circulation over the Continental Shelf North of Cape Hatteras in April 2017: Observations from the PEACH Program. Authors: G. Gawarkiewicz, H. Seim, S. Haines, F. Bahr, R. Todd, M. Andres.
Cruise Reports
Andres, M., S. Haines, R. Todd, M. Muglia, P. Taylor III, H. Seim, G. Gawarkiewicz, E. Sousa, J. Zambon, J. McCord, M. Valero, and A. Schnetzer (2017) AR-15 Cruise Report: PEACH Array Deployment Cruise, 15 - 29 April 2017. PDF Appendix
