HR: 1340h
AN: OS53A-0966    [Abstracts]
TI: A spatial correlation of the flow distribution on the outer continental shelf of Louisiana during the major hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico during the 2005 season
AU: * Coor, J L
EM: jcoor1@lsu.edu
AF: Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, United States
AU: Li, C Y
EM: cli@lsu.edu
AF: Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, United States
AU: Rouse, L J
EM: lrouse@lsu.edu
AF: Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, United States
AB: The 2005 hurricane season was unusually active, producing 31 named storms in the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico. Of these 31 storms, 11 entered the Gulf of Mexico, the most notable of which were Hurricanes Cindy, Dennis, Katrina, and Rita. Data were collected during these storms by acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCPs) based on 58 oil and gas platforms scattered across the outer continental shelf (OCS) region of the northern Gulf of Mexico. Nine to 31 ADCPs were active and recording data during each major storm passage through the Gulf of Mexico. Data were recorded from depths of 60 to 70m down to 1100 to 1200m, with a few extending to depths around 2000m. From these data, the flow distribution of the OCS region was studied with the use of time series and spectrum analysis. Preliminary analysis has shown temporal variations in the vertical structure, increased diurnal oscillation current velocities (by a factor of approximately two), near-inertial oscillations, and variations in the overall direction of the flow before, during, and after the passage of the hurricanes. Methods of harmonic analysis and rotary spectra were implemented in this study. These data and results provide an estimate of the spatial extent to which a hurricane influences subsurface currents.
UR: http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/maps/ADCP_WestGulf.shtml
DE: 4200 OCEANOGRAPHY: GENERAL
DE: 4219 Continental shelf and slope processes (3002)
DE: 4259 Ocean acoustics
DE: 4500 OCEANOGRAPHY: PHYSICAL
DE: 4532 General circulation (1218, 1222)
SC: Ocean Sciences [OS]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting