Numerical Studies of Seasonal Circulation in the

Western Caribbean Sea

1: Introduction

•Caribbean Sea is the largest marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean.

•Topography and coastline of the CS are highly irregular, affecting physical processes at work in the region.

•Circulation of the CS has be studied for more than 100 years, but more studies are needed

2: Objectives

The objectives of this study are to simulate circulation, water properties and their variability in the western Caribbean Sea using a 3-D ocean circulation model and provide the open boundary conditions for fine resolution model in the MBRS

3: Model Domain

4: Model Results

Animation of Surface Temperature and Currents Animation of Sub-surface Temperature and Currents

Annual Mean Volume Transport Streamfunction Annual Mean Model T and S at 5 m and 383 m

Comparison of the Calculated and Observed Near Surface Currents Comparison of the Calculated and Observed along-channel Currents

(Data from David Fratantoni, WIO) (Data from Sheinbaum et al, 2002)

Calculated and Climatological Monthly Mean Temperature Root-Mean-Square Values of the Currents in the Upper Ocean

CR: Control Run. Monthly mean wind, heat/salinity fluxes, & boundary transport

MWS: Annual mean forcing, except for Monthly mean Wind Stress

MBT: Annual mean forcing except for Monthly mean Boundary Transport

MHF: Annual mean forcing except for Monthly mean Heat Fluxes

MSF: Annual mean forcing except for Monthly mean Salinity Fluxes

AMF: Annual Mean Forcing

5: Summary

•A 3D baroclinic ocean model has been applied to the western Caribbean sea.

•Model results reproduce many well-known circulation features in the region, including the Caribbean Current and Panama-Colombia Gyre.

•Model results have been used to drive the high-resolution shelf circulation model for the Meso-American Barrier Reef System (MBRS)

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	Numerical Studies of Seasonal Circulation in the Western Caribbean Sea

	1: Introduction •Caribbean Sea is the largest marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean. •Topography and coastline of the CS are highly irregular, affecting physical processes at work in the region. •Circulation of the CS has be studied for more than 100 years, but more studies are needed 2: Objectives The objectives of this study are to simulate circulation, water properties and their variability in the western Caribbean Sea using a 3-D ocean circulation model and provide the open boundary conditions for fine resolution model in the MBRS 3: Model Domain 4: Model Results Animation of Surface Temperature and Currents Animation of Sub-surface Temperature and Currents Annual Mean Volume Transport Streamfunction Annual Mean Model T and S at 5 m and 383 m Comparison of the Calculated and Observed Near Surface Currents Comparison of the Calculated and Observed along-channel Currents (Data from David Fratantoni, WIO) (Data from Sheinbaum et al, 2002) Calculated and Climatological Monthly Mean Temperature Root-Mean-Square Values of the Currents in the Upper Ocean CR: Control Run. Monthly mean wind, heat/salinity fluxes, & boundary transport MWS: Annual mean forcing, except for Monthly mean Wind Stress MBT: Annual mean forcing except for Monthly mean Boundary Transport MHF: Annual mean forcing except for Monthly mean Heat Fluxes MSF: Annual mean forcing except for Monthly mean Salinity Fluxes AMF: Annual Mean Forcing 5: Summary •A 3D baroclinic ocean model has been applied to the western Caribbean sea. •Model results reproduce many well-known circulation features in the region, including the Caribbean Current and Panama-Colombia Gyre. •Model results have been used to drive the high-resolution shelf circulation model for the Meso-American Barrier Reef System (MBRS) Back