Atmospheric forcing of the Hatteras coastal ocean during 2017–2018: The PEACH program

• DOI: 10.1016/j.dynatmoce.2023.101364
• Publication Date: 2023-03-31T06:43:26Z
• Authors: John Bane; Harvey Seim; Sara Haines; Lu Han; Ruoying He; Joseph Zambon
• Keywords: Forcing (mathematics)

The Hatteras coastal ocean is centrally located along the east coast of 48 contiguous United States, offshore Cape in a complex land/ocean/atmosphere region where major currents differing temperatures and salinities meet interact, atmosphere fluctuates on wide range time scales, atmosphere-ocean interactions vary both spatially temporally. Gulf Stream current typically leaves its contact with continental margin here. Continental shelf from north south converge here, resulting net shelf-to-ocean transport waters that carry important water properties constituents. two drivers these exchanges are oceanic Stream. Atmospheric driving through surface wind stress heat flux across air-sea interface. complexity importance this motivated NSF-sponsored PEACH research program during 2017–2018 (PEACH: Processes Exchange At Hatteras). In paper, we utilize substantial number observations available to describe atmospheric forcing then. conditions described terms seasons: warm season (May mid-September), predominantly mild northeastward winds punctuated by occasional tropical cyclones (TCs); cool (mid-September April), nearly continuous, progression energetic extratropical (ETCs) region. Cool ETCs force strong ocean-to-atmosphere episodes, each time-scale several days. Wind fluctuation magnitudes exceed mean factor 3–5. These stresses account for just over 40% total variability region, showing be driver Atmosphere-ocean into throughout (~100 W m-2); it essentially always out (~500 m-2 or more). New results herein include: southward intraseasonal oscillations jet stream's position drove strongest (including one "bomb" cyclone); 41 years leading up including PEACH, season-averaged strength passing have shown little long-term change. Looking ahead, NSF Pioneer Array scheduled relocated northern portion 2024, NASA SWOT satellite has begun topography mission, which ground-track cross-over