PHYSICAL AND BIO-OPTICAL PROCESSES IN THE GULF OF MEXICO – LINKING REAL-REALTIMECIRCULATION MODELS AND SATELLITE BIO-OPTICAL AND SST PROPERTIES*

摘要

Ocean circulation is shown to influence the bio-optical properties in open and coastal waters inthe Gulf of Mexico. Three dimensional physical ocean properties of temperature, salinity, and currentsdetermined from the Navy Coastal Ocean Model (NCOM) are being combined with daily “latest pixelcomposite” satellite properties (phytoplankton, CDOM and detritus absorption and backscattering andSST). The coupling of these data sources provides supportive evidence of the degree which physicalprocesses influence bio-optical processes in the surface ocean. NCOM assimilates daily SST along withsynthetic temperature and salinity profiles from MODAS and is forced by surface COAMPS winds.Ocean color and SST from SeaWIFS and MODIS (Terra and Aqua) provide daily real-time observations.We demonstrate the response of the Mississippi River plume (observed through bio-opticalsignatures), to coastal advection and eddy circulation. We observe that divergent and convergent regionsin the model show a strong bio-optical response (growth and decay of phytoplankton) in the imagery.Furthermore, particle tracking in the model is used to follow different river discharges and track thecorresponding bio-optical response in the imagery. The combined model and imagery analyses providenew methods to extend the limitations of models and imagery when analyzed individually. These includemodel validation of ocean features and extending the surface satellite properties to include subsurfaceprocesses. Lastly, we applied time inversion of particle tracking from the models to show the sourcewaters where satellite observed phytoplankton blooms originated.Using effective methods, these combined data sources provide new tools for coastal managers inassessing and predicting HABS, hypoxia and freshwaters impacts