On the Mean Circulation in the Mid-Atlantic Bight

Abstract

Two possible mechanisms which may drive the observed mean alongshelf flow in the Mid-Atlantic Bight are described. Runoff from concentrated sources could conceivably force this flow; however, the one-layer homogeneous model results of Csanady (1978) and Beardsley and Hart (1978) imply that the observed shelf flow is not driven by runoff alone. On the other hand. the Semtner and Mintz (1977) numerical model of the North Atlantic strongly suggests that the shelf circulation is just a boundary layer component of the ocean circulation and thus driven by the large-scale wind stress and heat flux distributions. This model result supports Csanady's (1978) conclusion that the physical mechanism which creates the alongshelf pressure gradient thought to drive the alongshelf flow must be of oceanic origin.