Principal Investigators Physics

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Lagrangian Transport Transformation Experiment
An Interdisciplinary Process Study of the Hudson
River Plume in an Operational Research
Observatory
Physical Response Josh Kohut Rutgers University
Principal InvestigatorsPhysics Bob Chant
(Rutgers) Scott Glenn (Rutgers) Bob Houghton
(Lamont) Bernie Gardner (U. Mass) John Wilkin
(Rutgers) Chemistry John Reindfelder
(Rutgers) Bob Chen (U.Mass) Biology Paul
Bissett (FERI) Tom Frazer (U. Florida) Mark
Moline (Cal-Poly) Oscar Schofield
(Rutgers) Meng Zhou (U. Mass)
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Lagrangian Transport Transformation Experiment
Physics Chemistry Dye Tracking R/V Cape Hatteras
Measurements

• Surface CTD Data Salinity, Temperature,
  Chlorophyll, Dye Concentration, Optical
  BackScatter (OBS), Color Dissolved Organic Matter
  (CDOM).
• Ecoshuttle Data Salinity, Temperature,
  Chlorophyll, Dye Concentration
• Drifter Temperature, Location.
• Hatteras Instrument Data GPS, Meteorological Data

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Lagrangian Transport Transformation Experiment
Biology R/V Connecticut (2004) R/V Oceanus (2005)
Measurements
CDOM
CTD
HPLC (0.2um)
optics
HPLC (2um)
preserved phyto
HPLC (20um)
preserved zoo
Sized HPLC (0.2um)
whole metals
Sized HPLC (2.0um)
nutrients
Sized HPLC (20um)
grazing experiments
ABS red
primary prod.
CHN blue
acoustics 120kHz
Metals (0.2)
underway data
Metals (2)
TSRB
Metals (20)
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The Operational Research Observatory
Rutgers University Coastal Ocean Observation
Lab The COOLRoom Operations Center
CODAR Network
Cable
Glider Fleet
X-Band
L-Band
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The dynamics of a Buoyant Plume
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CDOM conservative allows forwater mass
discrimination
Raritan
Hudson
Schmutz?
Thanks Bob Chen
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Radial CODAR velocities along the New Jersey
Coast (2004)
30 cm/s
Radial Velocity (cm/s)
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The buoyant pulse front looks like a tidal bore
as it flows past the R/V Cape Hatteras (2005)
Salinity
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The dynamics of a Buoyant Plume
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Large river discharge causes large sediment
loads. Readily detected by U.S., Indian Chinese
ocean color satellites.
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LaTTE 2005 Last Indian OceanSat image before
first injection. Operations center in 24/7
communications with two research vessels
Ship-to-shore Communication
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Wind data from NOAA NDBC station at Ambrose Light
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Wind data from NOAA NDBC station at Ambrose Light
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Wind data from NOAA NDBC station at Ambrose Light
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Wind data from NOAA NDBC station at Ambrose Light
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Wind data from NOAA NDBC station at Ambrose Light
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Wind data from NOAA NDBC station at Ambrose Light
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Wind data from NOAA NDBC station at Ambrose Light
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Wind data from NOAA NDBC station at Ambrose Light
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Wind data from NOAA NDBC station at Ambrose Light
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LaTTE 2005 Actual surface drifter track and
virtual CODAR drifter tracks.
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Wind data from NOAA NDBC station at Ambrose Light
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Wind data from NOAA NDBC station at Ambrose Light
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The Sea Breeze Effect
Winter
Wind Rotary Spectrum
Spring
Cycles per Hour
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Filtered Surface Currents and Wind April 9, 2005
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The Nearshore Recirculation A Potential Incubator
A Biological Incubator Abundant Nutrients
Large Phytoplankton Plunging DO
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The dynamics of a Buoyant Plume
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Freshwater Plume Moves Out Across the Shelf
Hudson Shelf Valley
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Freshwater Plume Moves Out Across the Shelf
Water Mass Boundaries (Oliver et al.,
2004) April 13, 2005
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LaTTE 2005 -Post Injection 2 Final shipboard
survey After luring the Cape Hatteras offshore.
The survey began on the Highway. We were near
the glider when it surfaced. We saw currents
ripping southward in a 10 m thick layer of
freshwater along the highway -- perhaps the most
significant freshwater transport we saw all
week. Perhaps the most perplexing to me
is the Highway and why there has been a lack of
a strong coastally trapped flow this week.
--- Bob Chant aboard the Cape Hatteras, April
21, 2005
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Conclusions 2004-2005
Operations Center
Freshwater pulses out of the estuary over tidal
time scales In addition to the typical
upwelling/downwelling response, the plume is
shown to form a recirculation bulge driven by
tides and local winds. The freshwater was seen
to move onto the shelf through two pathways, down
the New Jersey coast and out along the southern
edge of the Hudson Canyon.

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Questions 2006 and Beyond
Operations Center
How does the pulsing freshwater impact mixing,
layering and circulation within the plume? What
factors control the occurrence and scale of the
recirculation bulge? What role does the Hudson
Canyon pathway have on cross-shelf transport of
estuarine water over the shelf and into the deep
ocean?