Subtidal Response of Scotian Shelf Circulation to Local and Remote Forcing. Part 11: Barotropic Model (original) (raw)

Circulation, dispersion and hydrodynamic connectivity over the Scotian Shelf and adjacent waters

Satellite Oceanography and Meteorology, 2017

A nested-grid ocean circulation modelling system is used in this study to examine the circulation of surface waters over the Scotian Shelf and its adjacent waters. The modelling system consists of a coarse-resolution (1/12°) barotropic storm surge (outer) model covering the northwest Atlantic Ocean, and a fine-resolution (1/16°) baroclinic (inner) model covering the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Scotian Shelf, and Gulf of Maine. The external model forcing includes tidal forcing, atmospheric forcing, surface heat fluxes, freshwater discharge, and large-scale currents specified at model open boundaries. The three-dimensional model currents are used to track trajectories of particles using a Lagrangian particle-tracking model. The simulated particle movements and distributions are used to examine the dispersion, retention, and hydrodynamic connectivity of surface waters over the study region. The near-surface dispersion is relatively high over western Cabot Strait, the inner Scotian Shelf, and...

Numerical Study of Effects of Winds and Tides on Monthly-Mean Circulation and Hydrography over the Southwestern Scotian Shelf

Journal of Marine Science and Engineering

A nested-grid modelling system is used to quantify effects of winds and tides on the three-dimensional (3D) circulation and hydrography over the southwestern Scotian Shelf (swScS) and surrounding areas in 2018. The performance of the nested-grid modelling system is assessed by comparing model results with observations and reanalysis data. Analysis of model results demonstrates that both winds and tides enhance the vertical mixing and modify the 3D circulation over the swScS. In winter (summer), the wind-induced vertical mixing warms (significantly cools) the sea surface temperature (SST) over the Scotian Shelf (ScS). In addition to intense vertical mixing associated with winter convection, the wind-induced mixing raises the sea surface salinity (SSS) by entraining the relatively salty sub-surface waters with the surface waters. The effect of wind-induced vertical mixing is evident in the upper water columns of ~40 m (~15 m) in February (August) 2018 over the swScS, reflecting the ty...