Publication Date:
2022-05-26
Description:
From 1974 through 1978 a series of intensive measurements were made in
the coastal waters within 12 km of Long Island. The data were derived from
two sources: a mooring array from which time series of temperature, salinity
and water velocity were measured at four depths at each of four offshore
distances; and high resolution, daily hydrographic surveys. Analysis of
subtidal cross-shore velocity fluctuations has indicated a two-layer response
to wind forcing, with near-surface flow to the right of the longshore wind and
opposing flow below. The magnitude of these fluctuations increased in the
seaward direction on a scale nearly equal to the internal deformation radius.
The phase between longshore velocity fluctuations and longshore wind stress
approached zero with decreasing bottom depth, probably the result of bottom
stress. The vertical structure of longshore fluctuations during stratified
conditions markedly differed from that during unstratified conditions, and
resembled the structure derived from a simple two-layer coastal flow model.
Significant mean offshore flow was measured during experiments in August and
September, despite negligible mean wind stress during the same periods. This
flow was most likely due to persistent longshore density gradients, as are
consistently inferred from hydrographic data taken in the vicinity.
Description:
Funding was provided by the Department of Energy
under contract DE-AC02-79EV10005.
Keywords:
Water masses
;
Ocean temperature
;
Salinity
;
Boundary layer
;
Ocean currents
Repository Name:
Woods Hole Open Access Server
Type:
Technical Report
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