Genesis of the Gulf Stream subseasonal variability in the Florida Straits

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Genesis of the Gulf Stream subseasonal variability in the Florida Straits

Presenter(s): Dr. Kandaga Pujiana, Assistant Scientist, NOAA/AOML, Physical Oceanography Division, and the University of Miami/CIMAS.

Sponsor(s):  NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanic Meteorological Laboratory (AMOL).

Seminar Contact: Matthieu Le Henaff, matthieu.lehenaff@noaa.gov 

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Abstract: Subseasonal variability (20 – 100 days) accounts for over a third of the Florida Current volume transport's total variance, yet physical processes controlling the variability remain not fully understood. In this seminar, I will demonstrate that coastal-trapped waves are the primary driver for the subseasonal variation of the Florida Current transport observed from 2001 to 2019. The role of local winds and open ocean signals is of secondary importance. The along-shore wind component of the anomalous North Atlantic subtropical anticyclone generates the subseasonal coastal-trapped waves off the southern Mid-Atlantic Bight coast. The subseasonal waves propagate from Cape May to Apalachicola, behaving as Kelvin waves in the Florida Straits and as continental shelf waves along the rest of the waveguide. They affect the Florida Current transport by up to 2.6 Sv, on average. As the waves propagate into the Gulf of Mexico, their energy substantially dissipates. The wave amplitude at Port Canaveral of up to 15 cm is three times higher than at Apalachicola. I will also discuss concurrent subseasonal changes of the meridional overturning circulation in the North Atlantic.

Bio(s): K. Pujiana received his Ph.D. in 2012 at Columbia University (Ocean & Climate Physics Division). He did his postdoctoral at Oregon State University (Ocean Mixing Group) and then at NOAA-PMEL (Global Tropical Moored Buoy Array Division). He is an Assistant Scientist at CIMAS and AOML (Physical Oceanography Division).

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials:  The seminar will be recorded, and the recording will be available at: https://www.youtube.com/user/phodaoml . (the exact link will be available after the recording is posted).

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{Dr. Kandaga Pujiana, Assistant Scientist, NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanic Meteorological Laboratory (AMOL), Physical Oceanography Division, and the University of Miami/CIMAS.}