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Physical processes influencing temperature and salinity on the North Carolina Cape Shoals

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5336752
Cross-spectral analysis and a heat budget are used to relate atmospheric and river runoff data with seven years of daily surface temperature and salinity on the North Carolina continental shelf. Salinity on Diamond Shoals is highly correlated with alongshore wind stress implying wind driven advection of the front between Virginia Coastal Water and Carolina Coastal Water. In the presence of strong horizontal and vertical temperature gradients, temperature at Diamond Shoals quickly responds to cross-shelf winds. At Frying Pan Shoals, the plume of the Cape Fear River is detected when winds blow seaward. Atmospheric fluxes primarily control the cycle of heating and cooling at Frying Pan Shoals, but advection of heat buffers the water temperature in the winter and summer.
Research Organization:
North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh (USA). Dept. of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
DOE Contract Number:
AS09-76EV00902
OSTI ID:
5336752
Report Number(s):
DOE/EV/00902-T1; ON: DE86015493
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English