WATER MASS LINKAGES BETWEEN THE MIDDLE AND SOUTH-ATLANTIC BIGHTS

Time and frequency domain analyses are used to relate coastal meteorol ogical data with 7 years of daily surface temperature and salinity col lected at three coastal light stations; offshore of the mouth of Chesa peake Bay, Virginia, on Diamond Shoals, at Cape Hatteras, North Caroli na and on Frying Pan Shoals, off Cape Fear, North Carolina. Salinity f luctuations at Diamond Shoals are highly correlated with alongshore wi nd stress, implying wind driven advection of the front between Virgini a Coastal Water (VCW) and Carolina Coastal Water (CCW) across Diamond Shoals. The data collected at Diamond Shoals indicate that more than h alf the time there is significant encroachment of Mid Atlantic Bight w ater into the South Atlantic Bight around Cape Hatteras, contrary to t he notion that VCW is entirely entrained into the Gulf Stream. In fact , VCW can appear as far south as Frying Pan Shoals, thereby extending across the entire North Carolina Capes inner to mid shelf. Temperature and salinity time series also indicate that water masses overlying Di amond Shoals respond quickly to cross-shelf winds. Cross-shelf wind st ress is significantly correlated with surface water temperature at Dia mond Shoals, for periods between 2 and 12 days. Changes in temperature can be brought about by wind-driven cross-shelf circulation and by wi nd-induced upwelling. Seasurface temperature satellite (AVHRR) imagery taken during the SEEP II confirm these concepts.