Analysis of the Spectral Backscattering Coefficient Variability on the Northeastern shelf of the Gulf of Mexico

HR: 11:30h
AN: OS22A-05 [Abstracts]
TI: Analysis of the Spectral Backscattering Coefficient Variability on the Northeastern shelf of the Gulf of Mexico
AU: * Gallegos, S C
EM: gallegos@nrlssc.navy.mil
AF: Naval Research Laboratory, Oceanography Division, Stennis Space Center, MS 39529 United States
AU: Gould, R W
EM: gould@nrlssc.navy.mil
AF: Naval Research Laboratory, Oceanography Division, Stennis Space Center, MS 39529 United States
AU: Arnone, R A
EM: arnone@nrlssc.navy.mil
AF: Naval Research Laboratory, Oceanography Division, Stennis Space Center, MS 39529 United States
AU: Teague, W J
EM: teague@nrlssc.navy.mil
AF: Naval Research Laboratory, Oceanography Division, Stennis Space Center, MS 39529 United States
AU: Mitchell, D A
EM: dmitchell@nrlssc.navy.mil
AF: Naval Research Laboratory, Oceanography Division, Stennis Space Center, MS 39529 United States
AU: Ko, D
EM: ko@nrlssc.navy.mil
AF: Naval Research Laboratory, Oceanography Division, Stennis Space Center, MS 39529 United States
AB: The continental shelf of the northeastern Gulf of Mexico between 87.5 W and 88.5 W is an ideal place to study coastal processes. In this region, the shelf slopes gently down to depths of 100 m, and then increases rapidly to depths greater than a mile. The Naval Research Laboratory at Stennis Space Center in Mississippi is currently undertaking an intensive measurement and modeling program to determine the cross-shelf exchange processes and their relation to the optical parameters of this area. In this study, we report our efforts to quantify the variability of the spectral backscattering coefficient derived from SeaWiFS imagery via empirical orthogonal functions. We compare the most relevant modes with the spatial distribution of Eddy Kinetic Energy (EKE) computed by the Inter Americas Seas (IAS) model and in-situ measurements by acoustic Doppler current profilers deployed between May 2004 and May 2005. The results indicate that most of the backscattering variability is contained in areas north of 29.2N which coincides with the edge of the continental shelf (100 m depth). Sporadic increases in backscattering are observed as far south as 29.0 N and to the east of 88.1W. These increases can be explained by fluctuations in surface EKE.
DE: 4219 Continental shelf processes
DE: 4275 Remote sensing and electromagnetic processes (0689)
DE: 4532 General circulation
DE: 4815 Ecosystems, structure and dynamics
DE: 4847 Optics
SC: Ocean Sciences [OS]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly