The Gulf Stream's effect on the variance of temperature at Cape Hatteras shelf

Cape Hatteras is a unique region off North Carolina. Converging on this area are several different patterns of water from the Gulf Stream, Mid Atlantic Bight, and South Atlantic Bight. This project aims to study how the temperature in the water column of the Gulf Stream varies over time and its potential to affect the distribution biology throughout the food chain. Two conductivity, temperature, and depth instruments were placed mid water on a mooring at 566 meters and 643 meters off the continental slope. Many different variables, including temperature, salinity, and sound velocity, from March to December of 2016, were analyzed using cross correlation. Results suggest that the variance in temperature changes over a daily to weekly basis likely due to the passage of fronts and mesoscale eddies. Furthermore, sound data will be used to link the movement and occurrence of biology in relation to variables such as temperature and depth. The conclusions from this project will be used to help understand the link between the physical and biological aspects of this dynamic region.