Fe. Werner et al., A NUMERICAL STUDY OF THE CONTINENTAL-SHELF CIRCULATION OF THE UNITED-STATES SOUTH-ATLANTIC BIGHT DURING THE AUTUMN OF 1987, Continental shelf research, 13(8-9), 1993, pp. 971-997
The autumn circulation on the inner- and mid-shelf of the U.S. South A
tlantic Bight (SAB) is examined numerically. Using data collected in 1
987 during the Fall Experiment (FLEX) the alongshore structure of the
currents and the coastal sea level fluctuations were found to be corre
lated to local winds which were strong and persistently northeasterly.
The observed inshore distribution of freshwater during FLEX, characte
rized by the presence of a coastal front confined to the coast inside
the 25 m isobath, reflects the local autumn discharge subjected to str
ong and persistent downwelling winds. The freshwater signal found outs
ide the 25 m isobath is suggested to be the previous summer's discharg
e advected northward by the summer winds subsequently returning south
forced by the autumn winds.