Third Abstract

Narragansett Bay (NB) is an impacted estuarine system with complex circulation and flushing char- acteristics. One complicating factor is the estuarine geometry which consists of three interconnected channels with dissimilar depths. Results are presented from a combined observational and model- ing study on circulation and transport within the mid-portion of NB. Underway ADCP surveys and four months of bottom mounted ADCP data from three sites reveal differences in tidal energies and residual flow patterns within and between the two primary channels of NB (East vs. West Passages). The shipping channel in the East Passage emerges as a near-constant source of oceanic water to the area of NB north of Prudence Island, including the Providence River. The return flow shifts from a deep outflow in the West Passage Channel to an outflow on the shoals of each channel in mid-August, 2006. Results indicate changing wind fields are responsible for both event-scale and seasonal shifts in circulation. ROMS (Regional Ocean Modeling System) modeling is used to extend these data to further charac- terize long term and episodic trends in circulation and transport over a range of environmental forcing conditions. Models look at the relationship between winds and local geometry on residual exchange and transport of water entering the mid-Bay from impacted sub-systems (Greenwich Bay, Providence River, Mt. Hope Bay).

Justin Rogers received a B.A. in Earth & Environmental Science from Wesleyan University in 2005. He entered GSO as a M.S. candidate in the spring of 2006. His major professor is Chris Kincaid. Other members of his core committee are David Ullman and Li Wu.

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