Wind-forced upwelling over high latitude submarine canyons

• Main Author: Statscewich, Hank
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: No Publisher Supplied 2014
• Subjects: Beaufort Sea
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.7282/t3gq6vt2; https://rucore.libraries.rutgers.edu/rutgers-lib/42453/

Analytical and numerical models of circulation over submarine canyons are presented where parameters such as stratification and canyon geometric scale closely mimic the Mackenzie Canyon located in the Beaufort Sea. The analytical model represents the linear, inviscid dynamics that take place during a geostrophic adjustment. The numerical model contains a full representation of the Navier-Stokes equations and is forced by a wind stress. Comparisons between the analytical and numerical simulations show that both models accurately represent simple coastal flow patterns in the vicinity of a coastal canyon. Numerical simulations of a wind forced upwelling event on a shelf with a canyon and a shelf without a canyon differ drastically. For the shelf without a canyon, upwelled waters are confined to within 5-6 km of the coast and a uniform along-shore coastal jet develops within 3 days of steady forcing. For the shelf with a canyon, vertical velocities are much stronger within the canyon, and there is an isolated region of upwelled waters that is confined to the coast along the axis of the canyon. Also, onshore trans ort is five times greater than offshore transport along the axis of the canyon indicating that canyons facilitate cross-shelf mixing during wind-forced upwelling events. Simulations of the coastal ocean's response to passing frontal systems reach an adjusted state after 5 days of continuous forcing. Alongshore transport dominates the system with a minimal amount of net on shore or off shore transport taking place in either of the model runs. Upon cessation of the winds, near-inertial oscillations take place in both simulations.