HR: 10:45h
AN: OS32A-02 INVITED     [Abstracts]
TI: Temporal Changes in the Western Boundary Current along the Florida Coast: A comparison of the Global NCOM to observations
AU: * Baringer, M O
EM: molly.baringer@noaa.gov
AF: NOAA/Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, 4301 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149 United States
AU: Meinen, C S
EM: christopher.meinen@noaa.gov
AF: NOAA/Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, 4301 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149 United States
AU: Mooers, C
EM: cmooers@rsmas.miami.edu
AF: Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149, Miami, FL 33149 United States
AU: Bang, I
EM: ibang@rsmas.miami.edu
AF: Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149, Miami, FL 33149 United States
AU: Garcia, R F
EM: rigoberto.garcia@noaa.gov
AF: Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway,, Miami, FL 33149 United States
AU: Rhodes, R
EM: Bob.Rhodes@nrlssc.navy.mil
AF: Naval Research Laboratory, Oceanography Division, Stennis Space Center, MS 39529 United States
AU: Bub, F L
EM: BubF@NAVO.NAVY.MIL
AF: Naval Oceanographic Office, Code N33, 1002 Balch Blvd, Stennis Space Center, MS 39529 United States
AB: The transport of the Florida Current along the east coast of the United States has been monitored for over 20 years using voltages measured on telephone cables spanning the Straits of Florida and as such represents an important component of the Ocean Observing System. Previous studies using these transport measurements have documented decadal changes on the order of 10-25% of the long-term mean. These studies have shown a strong correlation between Florida Current transport variability and the North Atlantic Oscillation, which also indicates a correlation with the large-scale sea-surface temperature patterns associated with regional and global climate variability. This also suggests connections to numerous socially significant weather and climate phenomena that are thought to be related through large scale ocean-atmosphere patterns in the Atlantic, including decadal and interdecadal variations in fisheries, rainfall, and hurricane activity. The long time series of transport observations in the Florida Straits represents an ideal data set for comparison to the latest generation of numerical models. In this presentation, the Florida Straits observations are compared to the Global Naval Coastal Ocean Model (G-NCOM), developed by the Naval Research Laboratory and operational at the Naval Oceanographic Office. Selected velocity profiles are compared at 9 locations across the Straits at 27°N, and the time series of model Florida Current transport is compared to the transport determined from the undersea cable. The data and model shows intriguing correlations, including transport changes of about 10 Sv associated with the passage of a strong atmospheric frontal system around January 14-18, 2005. Intercomparisons such as these will lead to improved observing systems, coastal models and forecasting.
DE: 4200 OCEANOGRAPHY: GENERAL
SC: Ocean Sciences [OS]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly