These images, which have been collected over a three-year
period, illustrate the relationship between Chlorophyll-A, sea surface
temperature (SST), and wind velocity in the southern portion of the mid-Atlantic
Bight. Each image has contains wind velocity vector, measured by
offshore meteorological buoys and shown by the white arrows, which were
provided by NOAA's Coastal Meteorological Automated Network (CMAN).
There are also three series of dotted lines which represent (outward from
the coast) 30 m, 100 m, and 1000 m isobaths, respectively.
These images contain several notable details that
are initially apparent. Offshore of the shelf break (100m isobath)
Chlorophyll-A and SST appear to be highly correlated. Furthermore,
in the lower potions of the images (SE corners) are dominated by Gulf steam
motions, which are denoted by high temperatures and low Chlorophyll-A concentrations.
Above the Gulf Stream and east of the shelf break,
there is a portion of the sea shelf. This is a region of complex
processes (Warm core ring interactions with shelf break; apparent cross
slope transfer of material (12,15 APR 98; 19 MAY 98)). The outer
shelf, between the 30m isobath and the shelf break, wind velocity and SST
interact with Chlorophyll-A to produce a complex relationship.
During the spring, high concentrations of Chlorophyll-A are apparent
along the shelf break. The inner shelf, which extends from the coastline
to the 30m isobath, is a region that is dominated by the discharges of
the major East Coast estuaries. Wind is also a major factor in developing
the temperature and Chlorophyll-A structure of this area. Buoyancy and
friction play critical roles in the force balances within this region,
and therefore impart a significant influence on the Chlorophyll-A patterns.
Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation
back to the Sea Grant Program
Last modified: October 9, 2001
Xuebin
Zhang --- xbzhang@newark.cms.udel.edu