A two-compartment model for understanding the simulated three-dimensional circulation in Prince William Sound, Alaska

A two-compartment model of Prince William Sound (PWS), Alaska, is developed. One compartment, corresponding to the southern PWS, represents advective phenomena, while the other is dominated by diffusion. This simple model is shown to reproduce rather well the temporal evolution of the mass of a passive tracer contained in PWS simulated by a complex, three-dimensional model under five types of surface forcing. The three parameters of the box-model have clear physical meanings, which helps to understand the hydrodynamics of PWS. In particular, the fraction of the flow entering the northern PWS is estimated, as well as the turnover time of the two regions considered

Mean and variable flow over the central California continental margin, 1978-1980

Based on two years (July 1978–June 1980) of current meter array measurements and bimonthly STD/XBT transects over the continental margin off central California, the mean California Undercurrent has a jet-like core in excess of 15 cm s−1 which is generally confined to the upper 300 m of the water column and to within 30 km of the coast. A comparison of measured current velocities with relative geostrophic velocities suggests, on average, a poleward flow of 10 cm s−1 at the reference level, 450 db. The variability is predominantly annual with a maximum poleward flow in May–June. Equatorward flow was suprisingly weak and infrequent in the transect studied. The alongshore flow has characteristic fluctuations of 15 cm s−1 on time scales of a few days to weeks. The strongest and most coherent element of variation is the “spring transition”, which had different manifestations in the two years observed, perhaps due to differences in the combination of local and remote forcing. The spring transition is characterized by an abrupt decrease in subsurface temperature which is well-correlated with a coastal sea surface temperature (SST) decrease, an upwelling index increase, and a transient reduction or reversal of the poleward flow. The subsurface current and temperature fluctuations are associated with coastal SST and wind fluctuations, and with satellite infra-red imagery patterns and changes.National Aeronautics and Space Administratio

A cool anomaly off northern California - An investigation using IR imagery and in situ data

The OPTOMA (Ocean Prediction Through Observation, Modeling and Analysis) program is developing an ocean descriptive-predictive system for four-dimensional data assimilation. It is presently concerned with the mesoscale variability in the California Current System (CCS). The present paper has the objective to assess the relationship of surface temperature structure to subsurface temperature structure and flow fields. Surface temperature anomalies are related to the mesoscale horizontal advective and subsurface mass fields. The cool anomaly off northern California in summer 1982 is discussed, taking into account the temperature structure along transects, T-S variations and inferred water masses, variation of horizontal temperature patterns with depth, and synoptic information from IR data.Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited

NOAA Science Advisory Board, Review of National Center for Environmental Prediction Ocean Modeling

In response to a request from the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service, an Ocean Model Review Panel (ORMP) was commissioned by the NOAA Science Advisory Board (SAB), to address the following two-part Charge

Development of a National Marine Oil Transportation System Model

This paper presents the development of a model of the marine oil transportation in the United States. NMOTSM, the National Marine Oil Transportation System Model, is a high-level strategic decision-making tool that will be used to systematically identify causes of oil spills and prioritize oil pollution R and D needs for prevention and response. Three distinct phases in the analysis are identified, namely the formulation of the oil transport model, the risk and safety performance assessment and the evaluation of potential prevention, and response measures and approaches