Water Column Variability in Coastal Regions
Abstract
Our long-term goal is to understand quantitatively the physical, chemical, and biological processes that cause variability in coastal waters. These processes include atmospheric forcing of water column properties, physical mixing and circulation, biological uptake and release of nutrients and gases, and chemical reactions at phase boundaries. This research will provide a basis to construct quantitative models for a range of properties and their variations in coastal regions. In this project, we are investigating the causes of temporal and spatial variability in coastal waters. Our primary focus is on oxygen, carbon dioxide, suspended particulate matter, chlorophyll, temperature, and salinity. These properties were selected because their variations reflect a wide range of processes, including the following: (1) in situ photosynthesis, respiration, and decomposition of organic matter, (2) air-sea gas exchange, (3) response to meteorological conditions (solar radiation, wind velocity, and heat fluxes), (4) tidal mixing, stratification, water mass variations, (5) runoff from land, and (6) anthropogenic inputs. We are investigating the causes of coastal water variability by combining in situ sensor measurements, satellite remote sensing, and selected water column sampling and analysis in coastal waters of two quite different environments: Rhode Island coastal waters and Hong Kong coastal waters.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA551425
Entities
People
- Dana R. Kester
Organizations
- University of Rhode Island