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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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