Short-term Influences on Suspended Particulate Matter Distribution in the Northern Gulf of Mexico Satellite and Model Observations 英文参考文献.docVIP

Sensors 2008, 8, 4249-4264; DOI: 10.3390/s8074249 OPEN ACCESS sensors ISSN 1424-8220 /sensors Article Short-term Influences on Suspended Particulate Matter Distribution in the Northern Gulf of Mexico: Satellite and Model Observations Eurico J. D’Sa 1,* and Dong S. Ko 2 1 Louisiana State University, Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Coastal Studies Institute, LA 70803, USA 2 Naval Research Laboratory, Stennis Space Center, MS, USA * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-mail: ejdsa@ Received: 22 May 2008; in revised version: 29 June 2008 / Accepted: 7 July 2008 / Published: 15 July 2008 Abstract: Energetic meteorological events such as frontal passages and hurricanes often impact coastal regions in the northern Gulf of Mexico that influence geochemical processes in the region. Satellite remote sensing data such as winds from QuikSCAT, suspended particulate matter (SPM) concentrations derived from SeaWiFS and the outputs (sea level and surface ocean currents) of a nested navy coastal ocean model (NCOM) were combined to assess the effects of frontal passages between 23-28 March 2005 on the physical properties and the SPM characteristics in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Typical changes in wind speed and direction associated with frontal passages were observed in the latest 12.5 km wind product from QuikSCAT with easterly winds before the frontal passage undergoing systematic shifts in direction and speed and turning northerly, northwesterly during a weak and a strong front on 23 and 27 March, respectively. A quantitative comparison of model sea level results with tide gauge observations suggest better correlations near the delta than in the western part of the Gulf with elevated sea levels along the coast before the frontal passage and a large drop in sea level following the frontal passage on 27 March. Model results o