Shelf and Estuary Dynamics

Shelf and Estuary Dynamics

There are many processes associated with circulation and transport over the inner shelf that have not been well understood because of the significant spatial and temporal variability of currents and waves over variable topography. This is particularly true where there is high shear such as along the western boundary of the Florida current or where buoyant outflow from estuaries interacts with the ambient shelf water. High frequency radars can provide the spatial and temporal sampling necessary to better understand the flow variability.

Estuarine Plumes and Coastal buoyancy Currents

I am interested in mixing processes between estuaries and the inner-shelf, particularly regarding wind and tidal forcing of buoyancy plumes. My work in this area has previously focused on radar remote sensing of the Chesapeake Bay outfall plume; however I am interested in investigating outflows with different scales to isolate important parameters.

Snapshot of OSCR derived Surface Currents during the Chesapeake Outfall Plume Experiment III (COPE3) in 1997. Topography is shown by the color scale.

Haus, B. K., R. Ramos, H.C. Graber, L. K. Shay and Z. R. Hallock, Remote Observation of Wave Shoaling associated with an Estuarine Outflow. IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering, (submitted).

Shay, L. K., T. M. Cook, B. K. Haus, H. C. Graber and Z. R. Hallock, Observed Surface Currents during the Chesapeake Bay Outflow Plume Experiments. IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering, (submitted).

Haus, B. K., H. C. Graber and L. K. Shay and T. M. Cook. 2003. Alongshelf variability of a coastal buoyancy current during the relaxation of downwelling favorable winds. Journal of Coastal Research, 19 (2), 409-420.

Marmorino, G. O., L. K. Shay, B. K. Haus, R. A. Handler, H. C. Graber, and M. P. Horne, 1999: An EOF analysis of HF Doppler radar current measurements of the Chesapeake Bay buoyant outflow, Cont. Shelf Res. 19, 271-288.

Florida Current Eddies

Florida Current eddies likely provide an important mechanism for the cross-shelf transport of the larvae of many commercially and recreationally important fish species including spiny lobsters, snappers and groupers. Sub-mesoscale spin-off eddies have been observed to be advected along the inshore edge of the Florida Current since pioneering work by Dr. Tom Lee at RSMAS in the 1970s. Because of the difficulty in observing these transient phenomena there is a need for a more complete understanding of their generation mechanisms, frequency of occurrence and dynamics. I believe that a combination of radar remote sensing, modeling, in-situ measurements and satellite observations will provide considerable insight. For example, Dr. John Wang and I have obtained Florida Current eddy length and velocity scales and cross-shelf volume transport estimates from HF Radar measurements as described in two papers that appeared in Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Sciences. My involvement with the SEA-COOS program to routinely measure currents and waves over the Florida Straits with WERA HF radar systems will provide a unique opportunity to expand on these earlier studies.

OSCR observed surface currents off Key Largo, Fl during the passage of a sub mesoscale Florida Current Eddy. Red tracks denote the movement of passive surface drifters.

Haus, B. K., J. D. Wang, J. Martinez-Pedraja and N. Smith. 2004. Southeast Florida Shelf Circulation and Volume Exchange, Observations of km-scale variability. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Sciences, 59 (2), 277-294.

Haus, B. K., J. D. Wang, J. Rivera, N. Smith and J. Martinez-Pedraja, 2000. Remote Radar Measurement of Shelf Currents off Key Largo, Florida. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Sciences, 51, 553-569.

Shay, L. K., T. M. Cook, B. K. Haus, J. Martinez, H. Peters, A. J. Mariano, J. VanLeer, P. Edgar An, S. Smith, A. Soloviev, B. Weisberg and M. Luther. 2000, VHF Radar Detects Oceanic Submesoscale Vortex along Florida Coast. EOS, Transactions 81: 209, 213.

Inlet Hydrodynamics

Another important avenue for transport of sediment, nutrients and biota is through inlets between embayments and estuaries and the inner shelf. There is considerable interest in determining the amount of such transport in a variety of locations in South Florida. As an example, we have measured the flows in channels leading into Lake Ingraham in Everglades National park through work with Dr. Hal Wanless and Brigitte Vlaswinkel in the Geology department at the University of Miami.

Current meters ready for deployment to measure tidal flows through creeks in Everglades National Park.

Mike Rebozo and I prepping a current meter to go into the water in East Cape Canal, in Everglades National Park. What the current meters looked like after six weeks in the water in South Florida