550
1.
Introduction
Ocean, yet are regions of far greater proportionate importance to human
the coastal ocean represents a major chemical filter that transforms and
accumulates nutrients and sediments from river and atmospheric sources,
with the majority of the terrestrial inputs and biological productivity being
re-mineralized on broad shelves with little export to the continental slope
(Walsh et al. 1988, Biscaye et al. 1994). How nutrients, carbon and
pollutants are introduced into eastern U.S. coastal waters from terrestrial
sources, how they are transformed and transported while resident on the
shelf, and how these physical, chemical, and ecological factors interact to
regulate variability in primary productivity and higher trophic levels, is
knowledge that is critical for assessment of climate change and humaninduced effects on coastal ecosystems.
This paper describes, by example, how our knowledge of processes
affecting coastal ocean transport and biogeochemistry is being expanded
through the use of new observing technologies and improved coastal ocean
models. The emphasis here is principally on results from a model of the
Martha’s Vineyard Coastal Observatory (MVCO) – this being the more
mature coastal forecast system currently operated by the Rutgers Ocean
Modeling Group. A description of the model design, implementation and
Boundary Layers and Air-Sea Transfer experiment (CBLAST). Additional
preliminary results from related projects are presented to illustrate further
aspects of the capabilities of a modern integrated coastal observation and
forecast system.
On the U.S. East Coast, the discharge of many urbanized rivers is
modified in estuaries, to a greater or lesser extent depending on residence
time and other factors. For example, most of the nitrogen discharged into the
Chesapeake Bay is assimilated by phytoplankton within the estuary (Malone
human source nitrogen load entering the New York lower estuary is
exported unassimilated to the coastal ocean (Garside et al. 1976). The fate
and transport of this material is controlled not only by biological and
chemical processes, but also by the transport dynamics of river plumes as
they enter the coastal ocean and interactions between the physical structure
of a plume and the rates at which biogeochemical processes act. As human
populations continue to grow along coastal margins, near-shore waters are
subjected to increasing impacts from nutrients and pollutants, and outbreaks
validation is presented. This includes results from real-time forecasts and
reanalyses of intensive observing periods at MVCO during the Coupled
JOHN L. WILKIN AND LYON LANEROLLE
The continental shelf seas represent 8% of the surface area of the World
activities. In addition to hosting up to 30% of the total global ocean primary
productivity, and more then 90% of the world’s fish catch (Longhurst 1995),
1996) and exported to the shelf as organic nitrogen, whereas 90% of the
1.
Introduction
Ocean, yet are regions of far greater proportionate importance to human
the coastal ocean represents a major chemical filter that transforms and
accumulates nutrients and sediments from river and atmospheric sources,
with the majority of the terrestrial inputs and biological productivity being
re-mineralized on broad shelves with little export to the continental slope
(Walsh et al. 1988, Biscaye et al. 1994). How nutrients, carbon and
pollutants are introduced into eastern U.S. coastal waters from terrestrial
sources, how they are transformed and transported while resident on the
shelf, and how these physical, chemical, and ecological factors interact to
regulate variability in primary productivity and higher trophic levels, is
knowledge that is critical for assessment of climate change and humaninduced effects on coastal ecosystems.
This paper describes, by example, how our knowledge of processes
affecting coastal ocean transport and biogeochemistry is being expanded
through the use of new observing technologies and improved coastal ocean
models. The emphasis here is principally on results from a model of the
Martha’s Vineyard Coastal Observatory (MVCO) – this being the more
mature coastal forecast system currently operated by the Rutgers Ocean
Modeling Group. A description of the model design, implementation and
Boundary Layers and Air-Sea Transfer experiment (CBLAST). Additional
preliminary results from related projects are presented to illustrate further
aspects of the capabilities of a modern integrated coastal observation and
forecast system.
On the U.S. East Coast, the discharge of many urbanized rivers is
modified in estuaries, to a greater or lesser extent depending on residence
time and other factors. For example, most of the nitrogen discharged into the
Chesapeake Bay is assimilated by phytoplankton within the estuary (Malone
human source nitrogen load entering the New York lower estuary is
exported unassimilated to the coastal ocean (Garside et al. 1976). The fate
and transport of this material is controlled not only by biological and
chemical processes, but also by the transport dynamics of river plumes as
they enter the coastal ocean and interactions between the physical structure
of a plume and the rates at which biogeochemical processes act. As human
populations continue to grow along coastal margins, near-shore waters are
subjected to increasing impacts from nutrients and pollutants, and outbreaks
validation is presented. This includes results from real-time forecasts and
reanalyses of intensive observing periods at MVCO during the Coupled
JOHN L. WILKIN AND LYON LANEROLLE
The continental shelf seas represent 8% of the surface area of the World
activities. In addition to hosting up to 30% of the total global ocean primary
productivity, and more then 90% of the world’s fish catch (Longhurst 1995),
1996) and exported to the shelf as organic nitrogen, whereas 90% of the