Marine Science Faculty Publications
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-7-2006
Keywords
upwelling, Gulf Stream intrusions, South Atlantic Bight
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1029/2005JC003105
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.
Rights Information
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
Journal of Geophysical Research - Oceans, v. 111, issue C6, art. C06007
Copyright 2006 by the American Geophysical Union.
Scholar Commons Citation
Aretxabaleta, Alfredo; Nelson, James R.; Blanton, Jack O.; Seim, Harvey E.; Werner, Francisco E.; Bane, John M.; and Weisberg, Robert H., "Cold Event in the South Atlantic Bight During Summer of 2003: Anomalous Hydrographic and Atmospheric Conditions" (2006). Marine Science Faculty Publications. 133.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/msc_facpub/133
