Award Abstract # 0549836
Small-Scale Processes in the COASTal Ocean

NSF Org: OCE
Division Of Ocean Sciences
Recipient: OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
Initial Amendment Date: February 24, 2006
Latest Amendment Date: February 24, 2006
Award Number: 0549836
Award Instrument: Standard Grant
Program Manager: Eric C. Itsweire
OCE
 Division Of Ocean Sciences
GEO
 Directorate for Geosciences
Start Date: March 1, 2006
End Date: February 28, 2011 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $426,511.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $426,511.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 2006 = $426,511.00
History of Investigator:
  • James Moum (Principal Investigator)
    moum@coas.oregonstate.edu
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: Oregon State University
1500 SW JEFFERSON AVE
CORVALLIS
OR  US  97331-8655
(541)737-4933
Sponsor Congressional District: 04
Primary Place of Performance: Oregon State University
1500 SW JEFFERSON AVE
CORVALLIS
OR  US  97331-8655
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
04
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): MZ4DYXE1SL98
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s): PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY
Primary Program Source: app-0106 
Program Reference Code(s): 0000, OTHR
Program Element Code(s): 161000
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.050

ABSTRACT

Observations made as part of the COAST (Coastal Ocean Advances in Shelf Transport) project by the Ocean Mixing Group at Oregon State University have already led to new insights into the details of coastal flows. These are an extensive set of observations obtained over a broad range of both topography and flow states. The data are of uniformly high quality and include new types of measurements implemented specifically for this experiment (e.g., high-frequency Doppler velocity profiling and turbulence measurements from a bottom lander) which have enhanced our ability to infer the small-scale dynamics of these flows. However, due to the extensive nature of this data set a number of key issues still need to be addressed.

In this study, a researcher at Oregon State University will continue his analysis of the small-scale COAST data set to determine a useful parameterization of small-scale topographic drag and mixing that can be used in coastal ocean circulation models; this will be done using the comprehensive bottom boundary layer data that includes near-bottom stratification, turbulence dissipation rate and current speeds over a broad range of bathymetry. A detailed characterization of mixing during downwelling, including an analysis of the dynamics of merged surface and bottom boundary layers will be constructed. The researcher will also assess the interaction of near-inertial waves and internal tide with the coastal jet and how the presence of the coastal jet alters mixing parameterizations that are based primarily on wave shear. Finally, both the energetic evolution of bottom-trapped nonlinear internal waves/bores of elevation and the net mass transports by these waves will be quantified. The primary objective of the work is to understand the flow physics to sufficiently aid in parameterizations, which can then be applied to coastal ocean models. In this way, the analyses of the physics of small-scale processes will contribute to our understanding of the larger scale circulation. A graduate student will also be trained on how to bridge the gap between small-scale dynamics and their parameterization in terms of larger-scale variables.

PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH

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J.N. Moum and W.D. Smyth "The pressure disturbance of a nonlinear internal wave train" J. Fluid Mech , v.558 , 2006 , p.153
J.N. Moum and T.P. Rippeth "Do observations adequately resolve the natural intermittency of oceanic turbulence?" J. Marine Systems , v.77 , 2009 doi:10.1016/j.jmarsys.2008.10.1013
J.N. Moum and T.P. Rippeth "Do observations adequately resolve the natural intermittency of oceanic turbulence?" J. Marine Systems , 2008 doi:10.1016/j.jmarsys.2008.10.1013
Hales, B; Karp-Boss, L; Perlin, A; Wheeler, PA "Oxygen production and carbon sequestration in an upwelling coastal margin" GLOBAL BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES , v.20 , 2006 View record at Web of Science 10.1029/2005GB00251
G. Avicola, J.N. Moum, A. Perlin and M.D. Levine "Enhanced turbulence due to the superposition of internal gravity wave shear on the coastal upwelling jet" J. Geophys. Res. , v.112 , 2007 , p.C0 10.1029/2006JC003831
A. Perlin, J. N. Moum, J.M. Klymak, M.D. Levine, T. Boyd and M. Kosro "Organization of stratification, turbulence and veering in bottom Ekman layers" J. Geophys. Res. , 2007 , p.C05S 10.1029/2004JC002641
J.N. Moum, J.M. Klymak, J.D. Nash, A. Perlin and W.D. Smyth "Energy transport by nonlinear internal waves" J. Phys. Oceanogr , v.37 , 2007 , p.1968
J.N. Moum, J.D. Nash and J.M. Klymak "Small-scale processes in the coastal ocean" Oceanography , v.21 , 2008 , p.22

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