Fiechter, J.; Mooers, C. N.; Numerical Simulations of Florida Current Frontal Eddies With Implications For Mesoscale Biophysical Processes and Fisheries Oceanography, ASLO/TOS Ocean Research 2004 Conference, Honolulu, Hawaii

Abstract

The importance of frontal regions and mesoscale eddies on enhanced biological production is well known. Because of the implications on fisheries and stock assessment, identification and forecasting of such locations is critical. Here, a high-resolution coastal ocean circulation model (EFS-POM, developed within the Southeast Atlantic Coastal Ocean Observing System (SEACOOS) program) is used to investigate Florida Current frontal eddies as mechanisms for increased productivity from local upwelling, cross-shelf water exchanges, and aggregations of biological organisms. Preliminary analyses have demonstrated the ability of the model to simulate frontal eddy dynamics (recurrence period, translation speed, strength, and characteristic length scales) and have provided validation against observations. To investigate biophysical transport both Eulerian and Lagrangian approaches are used and compared. The numerical simulations have straightforward applications to operational fisheries oceanography as they provide detailed synoptic ocean maps and predict the evolution of biologically important features. Combined with satellite imagery, with HF radar-derived surface current maps, and drifters, coastal ocean model output is expected to improve the understanding of the spatial and temporal variability of fish distribution as it relates to mesoscale ocean circulation.

Citation

Fiechter, J.; Mooers, C. N.; Numerical Simulations of Florida Current Frontal Eddies With Implications For Mesoscale Biophysical Processes and Fisheries Oceanography, ASLO/TOS Ocean Research 2004 Conference, Honolulu, Hawaii

For more information, see the SEACOOS Modeling Working Group.