A NUMERICAL STUDY OF THE CONTINENTAL-SHELF CIRCULATION OF THE UNITED-STATES SOUTH-ATLANTIC BIGHT DURING THE AUTUMN OF 1987

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.