Particle transport in the mid-Atlantic bight

This study examines transport of particles in the mid-Atlantic bight, including along-shelf transport, cross-shelf exchange, and exchange between the continental shelf and the Delaware Bay estuary. Particle behaviors in the study include neutrally buoyant, surface-seeking, bottom-seeking, and behaviors based on experimental observations of mollusk larvae that respond to wave and turbulent motions. Unsurprisingly, particle trajectories are sensitive to their initial location and the time of their release. For neutrally buoyant particles, the vertical release location can have a substantial influence on trajectories, particularly when a strong thermocline inhibits mixing between upper and lower parts of the water column. Depending on their sinking or swimming speed, particle behavior can reduce the sensitivity of trajectories to vertical release location by allowing particles to move into the upper or lower part of the water column. Although meaningful interannual variability exists, seasonal variation between upwelling-favorable conditions in average winter-spring and downwelling-favorable conditions in average spring-summer leads to some seasonal predictability of particle trajectories. The results shown in this study will explore details of particle trajectories in different seasons and with different release locations. These will be examined in the context of the relationships between circulation and transport of material on the continental shelf.