Sea ice in the Canada Basin of Arctic Ocean has decreased significantly recent years, and this will likely change properties surface waters. A near‐surface temperature maximum (NSTM) at typical depths 25–35 m been previously described; however, its formation mechanisms, seasonal evolution, interannual variability have not established. Based on summertime conductivity, temperature, depth surveys year‐round Ice‐Tethered Profiler data from 2005 to 2008, we found that NSTM forms when sufficient...

Short, shelf-break canyons are shown to have a substantial influence on local water properties and zooplankton distribution. Barkley Canyon (6 km long) off the west coast of Vancouver Island was extensively sampled in July 1997 found property current patterns similar those observed over Astoria (22 Washington State. Results from reveal that canyon can occur very close surface (at thermocline depth 10 m) that, near rim, stretching vorticity generated is strong enough produce closed cyclonic...

The response over a submarine canyon to several day upwelling event can be separated into three phases: an initial transient response; later, much longer, “steady” advection‐driven and final relaxation phase. For the phase realistically steep, deep, narrow canyons with near‐uniform flow stratification at rim depth, we have derived scale estimates for four key quantities. Observations from 5 real‐world studies 3 laboratory are used validate scaling estimate scalar constant each scale. Based...

The Strait of Georgia is a large, semi-enclosed body water between Vancouver Island and the mainland British Columbia connected to Pacific Ocean via Juan de Fuca at south Johnstone north. During winter months, coastal communities along are risk flooding caused by storm surges, natural hazard that can occur when strong coincides with high tide. This investigation produces surge hindcasts using three-dimensional numerical ocean model for surrounding bodies (Juan Strait, Puget Sound, Strait)...

Abstract Estuarine systems host a rich diversity of marine life that is vulnerable to changes in ocean chemistry due addition anthropogenic carbon. However, the detection and impact secular carbon trends these complicated by heightened natural variability as compared open‐ocean regimes. We investigate biogeochemical between pre‐industrial (PI) modern periods using high‐resolution, three‐dimensional, biophysical model Salish Sea, representative Northeast Pacific coastal system. While seasonal...

A comprehensive study of the central Southern California Bight shows that subtidal currents are dominated by relatively long time scales (10–25 days), large alongshore scales, and significant offshore upward phase propagation. one‐dimensional model observed fluctuating, poleward propagating (speeds 140–260 cm s −1 ) pressure gradient disturbances account for a much larger fraction velocity variance than local wind stress (at least 40% in both seasons) have longer periods dominant currents....

A coupled biophysical model of the Strait Georgia (SoG), British Columbia, Canada, has been developed and successfully predicts timing spring phytoplankton bloom. The physical is a one-dimensional vertical mixing model, using K-profile parametrization boundary layer, forced with high frequency meteorological data. biological includes one class (microphytoplankton) nutrient source (nitrate). bloom in SoG occurs when receive enough light that their growth rates exceed loss rates. amount...

[1] Increased sea ice melt and decreased surface albedo have changed the near-surface water mass structure of Canada Basin. From 1993–2009, temperature maximum (NSTM) remnant previous winter's mixed layer (rWML) warmed by about 1.5°C 0.5°C freshened 4 2 practical salinity units, respectively. Results from a 1-D model suggest rWML warming can be explained heat diffusion both NSTM Pacific Summer Water (PSW). The same predicts salinization rWML, whereas freshening was observed. This suggests...

This study investigates the sensitivity of a high resolution regional ocean model to several choices in mixing and advection. The oceanographic process examined is deep water renewal event Juan de Fuca Strait–Strait Georgia sill-basin estuarine system located on west coast North America. Previous observational work has shown that timing events linked spring/neap tidal cycle, turn, sensitive amount vertical induced by currents interacting with sills complicated bathymetry. It found model’s...

Abstract The Strait of Georgia (SoG) is a large semienclosed estuary that spatially dominates the Salish Sea on North American Pacific coast. region well populated, harbors significant aquaculture, and vulnerable to climate change. We present first inorganic carbon data collected in SoG covering all seasons (2003 2010–2012) put them into context local circulation oxygen cycles. Results show has higher content lower pH than surrounding waters. Aragonite saturation horizons do not become...

Abstract We present a coupled three‐dimensional biological‐physical model for the Salish Sea and evaluate it by comparison to nitrate, silicate, chlorophyll observations. It accurately reproduces nitrate concentrations with Willmott skill scores, root‐mean‐square error, bias ranging from 0.84–0.95, 4.02–6.5 μM, −2.33–1.84 respectively, compared three independent discrete sample data sets. A prominent feature of output is tidal jet emanating Discovery Passage producing downstream plume...

Abstract. A two dimensional scavenging model is used to investigate the patterns of sediment 231Pa/230Th generated by Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and further advance application this proxy for ocean paleocirculation studies. The parameters geometry overturning circulation cell have been chosen so that generates meridional sections dissolved 230Th 231Pa consistent with published water column profiles an additional 12 previously unpublished measured in North Equatorial...

Abstract. Fjords are deep nearshore zones that connect watersheds and oceans, typically behaving as an estuary. In some fjords, strong katabatic winds in winter (also known Arctic outflow wind events) can lead to cooling reoxygenation of subsurface waters, with effects lasting until the following autumn, observed 2019 Bute Inlet, British Columbia, Canada. We used high-resolution, three-dimensional ocean model summer simulations investigate mechanisms allowing for persistence these cool,...

Abstract Deep estuaries are often separated from the open ocean by sills and constrictions. These constrictions areas of intense mixing dominating total estuarine mixing. Our example is Salish Sea on West Coast North America with strong through Southern Gulf San Juan Islands. The amount depth exchange, tracers it carries, these depends sensitively densities waters two sides region. Predicting future exchange in a given region requires full understanding dynamics. Here we use Lagrangian...

Abstract. The response of a coastal ocean model, simulating typical eastern boundary system, to downwelling-favorable winds with and without the presence submarine canyon is studied. Three contrasting bathymetric configurations, considering shelves different depths slopes, are evaluated. Experiments represent well-known downwelling circulation cross-shore structure front development frontal instabilities generating density anomalies in bottom layer. drives important changes flows, opposing...

Abstract Over the past decade, international GEOTRACES program has greatly expanded coverage of dissolved lead (dPb) observations in western Arctic Ocean including Canada Basin and Canadian Archipelago. However, it is difficult to quantify drivers spatial distribution seasonal variability dPb concentrations using alone. Here, we present a three‐dimensional model with experiments from 2002 2021 assess our current understanding cycling. The illustrates impact historical anthropogenic pollution...

Abstract Large scale climate indices such as the North Pacific Gyre Oscillation (NPGO) have been shown to influence physiology, ecology, and phenology of phytoplankton zooplankton, yet mechanisms by which they are linked not well‐defined. We used a three‐dimensional coupled biophysical model, SalishSeaCast, determine mechanistic links between NPGO plankton dynamics in Central Strait Georgia, Canada. First, we compared bottom‐up processes during positive (cold‐phase) negative (warm‐phase)...

The presence of a canyon cutting the continental shelf has been observed to enhance wind-driven upwelling. In particular, in vicinity Juan de Fuca Canyon at mouth Strait an eddy containing deep water (from depth approximately 450 m) documented. Strong upcanyon flows have within numerous canyons including Astoria Canyon, which cuts offshore Columbia River. author develop linear theory for flow over infinitesimally thin but finite length illustrate basic mechanism. Two regimes are considered,...

Coastal upwelling regions are associated with high primary production and disproportionately large fluxes of organic matter relative to the global ocean. However, coastal usually homogenized in ocean carbon models. We have developed a nitrogen flux model including all major processes both within below euphotic zone over seasonal decadal timescales for regions. These control surface p CO 2 . The is applied west coast Vancouver Island, Canada (∼49°N, 126°W). Net annual air‐sea exchange export...