HR: 08:45h
AN: OS51D-04    [Abstracts]
TI: IAS Mesoscale Surface Circulation Observed Through Satellite Altimetry and its Influence in a Small Scale, Coastal Domain, Studied with a ROMS Model of the Cariaco Basin.
AU: * Alvera-Azcarate, A
EM: aalvera@marine.usf.edu
AF: College of Marine Sciences University of South Florida, 140 Seventh Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, FL 33701, United States
AU: Barth, A
EM: abarth@marine.usf.edu
AF: College of Marine Sciences University of South Florida, 140 Seventh Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, FL 33701, United States
AU: Virmani, J I
EM: jyotika@marine.usf.edu
AF: College of Marine Sciences University of South Florida, 140 Seventh Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, FL 33701, United States
AU: Virmani, J I
EM: jyotika@marine.usf.edu
AF: Florida Institute of Oceanography, 830 First Street South, Saint Petersburg, FL 33701, United States
AU: Weisberg, R H
EM: weisberg@seas.marine.usf.edu
AF: College of Marine Sciences University of South Florida, 140 Seventh Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, FL 33701, United States
AB: The Intra-Americas Sea (IAS) surface circulation is characterized by large scale currents. The Caribbean current, which originates in the Lesser Antilles, travels westwards through the Caribbean Sea and eastern Mexico and passes through the Gulf of Mexico to finally form the Gulf Stream. This complex system of currents is also characterized by a high mesoscale variability, such as eddies and meanders. The objectives of this work are twofold: first, the multi-scale surface circulation of the IAS is described using satellite altimetry. The topographic influence of the different basins forming the IAS, the characteristic time and spatial scales, and the time variability of the surface circulation will be addressed. The second objective is to analyze the influence of this large scale circulation on a small scale coastal domain with a ROMS-based model of the Cariaco basin (Venezuela). Cariaco is a deep (1400 m), semi-enclosed basin connected to the open ocean by two shallow channels (Tortuga and Centinela Channels). Its connection with the open sea, and therefore the ventilation of the basin, occurs in the surface layers. The Cariaco ROMS model will be used to study the exchanges of mass, heat and salt through the channels. A 1/60 degree ROMS model nested in the global 1/12 degree HYCOM model from the Naval Research Laboratory will be used for this study. In addition, a series of observations (satellite altimetry and in situ temperature, salinity and velocity data), will be used to assess the influence of the Caribbean circulation on the basin.
UR: http:ocgmod2.marine.usf.edu
DE: 4223 Descriptive and regional oceanography
DE: 4255 Numerical modeling (0545, 0560)
DE: 4512 Currents
SC: Ocean Sciences [OS]
MN: 2007 Joint Assembly