Marine Sciences Program at Avery Point - University of Connecticut

To the left is a SeaWiFS-derived image that represents near-surface chlorophyl concentrations. Red corresponds to high concentrations, and blue reflects low concentrations. Superposed on the image are several lines coinciding with regions of rapid horizontal variation, also known as fronts. Within the box and just south east of the south fork of Long Island, is one such feature. In fact, this region of the continental shelf outside of Block Island Sound frequently exhibits such fronts in approximately this location, not only in chlorophyl, but also in other water properties like temperature and salinity. See a satelite image of ocean surface temperature with a sharp horizontal gradient in approximately the same area outside of Block Island Sound.

The Front-Resolving Ocean Network with Telemetry (FRONT) project is a multi-institutional effort, based at UConn. Its goal is the development of a coastal ocean observing system in the region just south-east of Long Island. This system comprises a data-collection stream, involving a range of data products, and a data-assimilative ocean model capable of producing an estimate of the ocean state as well as examining the underlying physical, and ultimately biogeochemical dynamics for this region.

Although many data sources are being examined (e.g., satellite, ship-borne, and coastal radar), the project is developing a new technique for real-time, remote probing of the ocean velocity, temperature and salinity structure. We are investigating the feasibility of an autonomous, underwater, acoustic, multiply-redundant network for use in the coastal ocean.

This region displays a range of physical processes that are active in forming and maintaining the observed density structure. In particular, the combination of strong tides forcing flow over complex bathymetry along with buoyancy-forced motion associated with the exchange of fresh estuarine water of Long Island Sound with saline water from the shelf makes the Block Island Sound outflow region particularly interesting to study.


	Motivation To the left is a SeaWiFS-derived image that represents near-surface chlorophyl concentrations. Red corresponds to high concentrations, and blue reflects low concentrations. Superposed on the image are several lines coinciding with regions of rapid horizontal variation, also known as fronts. Within the box and just south east of the south fork of Long Island, is one such feature. In fact, this region of the continental shelf outside of Block Island Sound frequently exhibits such fronts in approximately this location, not only in chlorophyl, but also in other water properties like temperature and salinity. See a satelite image of ocean surface temperature with a sharp horizontal gradient in approximately the same area outside of Block Island Sound. The Front-Resolving Ocean Network with Telemetry (FRONT) project is a multi-institutional effort, based at UConn. Its goal is the development of a coastal ocean observing system in the region just south-east of Long Island. This system comprises a data-collection stream, involving a range of data products, and a data-assimilative ocean model capable of producing an estimate of the ocean state as well as examining the underlying physical, and ultimately biogeochemical dynamics for this region. Although many data sources are being examined (e.g., satellite, ship-borne, and coastal radar), the project is developing a new technique for real-time, remote probing of the ocean velocity, temperature and salinity structure. We are investigating the feasibility of an autonomous, underwater, acoustic, multiply-redundant network for use in the coastal ocean. This region displays a range of physical processes that are active in forming and maintaining the observed density structure. In particular, the combination of strong tides forcing flow over complex bathymetry along with buoyancy-forced motion associated with the exchange of fresh estuarine water of Long Island Sound with saline water from the shelf makes the Block Island Sound outflow region particularly interesting to study.

Motivation