Exploring Temporal Patterns in Temperature and Current Speed at the Mouth of the Snohomish River
Oceanic temperatures and currents are the primary driving factors of almost every physical phenomenon on Earth and understanding them is key to studying almost every other aspect of Earth science. Possession Sound, a fjord-type estuary system in the Salish Sea, is home not only to incredible biodive...
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| Format: | Text |
| Language: | English |
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Western CEDAR
2022
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| Online Access: | https://cedar.wwu.edu/ssec/2022ssec/allsessions/64 https://cedar.wwu.edu/context/ssec/article/3226/viewcontent/70_b9560f0c77f3481da7e8a016f2a7849e.pdf |
| Summary: | Oceanic temperatures and currents are the primary driving factors of almost every physical phenomenon on Earth and understanding them is key to studying almost every other aspect of Earth science. Possession Sound, a fjord-type estuary system in the Salish Sea, is home not only to incredible biodiversity but also to some very complex current systems and thermoclines. A particularly intriguing part of the Possession Sound fjord system is the extreme stratification of the halocline in certain areas. One such area can be found at the mouth of the Snohomish River, where cold freshwater from ice melts flows into warmer seawater, creating a stratified but unstable water column. As a result, very intricate temperature patterns can arise in this water system. Understanding the relationship between temperature and current speed throughout the water column is crucial to understanding how many other factors influence the local water system. This study aims to examine temporal patterns in the relationship between current speed and temperature at the mouth of the Snohomish River. Temperature data is collected from the Ocean Research College Academy's CTD mooring at the Everett Marina, and current speed data is collected from their ADCP in the same location. Previous studies conducted at ORCA suggest that during most parts of the tidal cycle, temperature readings at the surface correlate strongly with tidal stages, but when the tide cycle becomes less intense and current speeds decrease, this correlation disappears. It is hypothesized that this pattern represents a decrease in thermocline stratification during periods of slower current speeds. A major drawback of the study was its very narrow scope: only one month of continuous data was included. By expanding on prior research, this study will help contribute to a more complete understanding of the water column at the mouth of the Snohomish River. |
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