Cold event in the South Atlantic Bight during summer of 2003: Anomalous hydrographic and atmospheric conditions

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Read Full Article (file size: 2208348 bytes) Cited by JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 111, C06007, doi:10.1029/2005JC003105, 2006 Cold event in the South Atlantic Bight during summer of 2003: Anomalous hydrographic and atmospheric conditions Alfredo Aretxabaleta Department of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA James R. Nelson Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, Savannah, Georgia, USA Jack O. Blanton Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, Savannah, Georgia, USA Harvey E. Seim Department of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA Francisco E. Werner Department of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA John M. Bane Department of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA Robert Weisberg College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA Abstract Unusually cold seawater temperatures were observed along much of the U.S. eastern seaboard during the summer of 2003. In this study, hydrographic and atmospheric observations from spring through summer were analyzed to track the evolution of the cold water event in the South Atlantic Bight (SAB) and investigate links to various forcing mechanisms. The hydrographic observations included 13 cross-shelf transects over the central region of the SAB, surface temperature time series from several NDBC stations, and bottom temperatures from a mid shelf mooring. Atmospheric data were obtained from NDBC stations. Additional data included water level from NOS stations and river discharge from USGS stations. The conditions observed during spring and summer of 2003 were compared with climatological values. Record precipitation and increased river discharge during spring produced strong salinity stratification over the inner and mid shelf. Anomalously intense and persistent upwelling-favorable winds were present from May until August. On the mid and outer shelf the resulting upwelling and subsurface shoreward penetration of cold water acted as a feedback mechanism to preserve the stratified conditions through the summer. The characteristics of the upwelled water corresponded to water from the lower part of the Gulf Stream water column. On the shelf the resulting temperature values under the thermocline were significantly lower than climatological temperatures by 5°–7°C. Received 15 June 2005; accepted 15 February 2006; published 7 June 2006. Keywords: upwelling; Gulf Stream intrusions; South Atlantic Bight. Index Terms: 4279 Oceanography: General: Upwelling and convergences (4964); 4219 Oceanography: General: Continental shelf and slope processes (3002); 4217 Oceanography: General: Coastal processes; 4576 Oceanography: Physical: Western boundary currents; 4262 Oceanography: General: Ocean observing systems. Read Full Article (file size: 2208348 bytes) Cited by Citation: Aretxabaleta, A., J. R. Nelson, J. O. Blanton, H. E. Seim, F. E. Werner, J. M. Bane, and R. Weisberg (2006), Cold event in the South Atlantic Bight during summer of 2003: Anomalous hydrographic and atmospheric conditions, J. Geophys. Res., 111, C06007, doi:10.1029/2005JC003105. Copyright 2006 by the American Geophysical Union.

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