Project Summary for 2006-11: Quantification of reef-scale advection/diffusion processes in relation to coral larvae dispersion patterns in the Upper Florida Keys with high-resolution coastal ocean observations and simulations.
The focus of the proposed research project is the study of the influence of winds, tidal currents, and mesoscale frontal variability as they relate to reef-scale advective/diffusive transport processes along the Upper Florida Keys reef tract. Specific interest resides in quantifying transport rates in relation to larval dispersion and retention following a mass coral spawning event by combining high-resolution coastal ocean simulations and in-situ observations. The pelagic stage of coral larvae is typically of the order of five to six days (possibly as long as two weeks) and advection distances in the region of interest could potentially range from hundreds of meters to hundreds of kilometers. The characterization of vertical profiles of horizontal velocity and their associated spatial and temporal variability is a key component to identifying the physical processes affecting reef-scale ocean circulation in the Florida Keys. Investigating vertical mixing and frontal convergences in a coral reef environment is also critical to understanding the potential mechanisms affecting larval retention and aggregation.
In-situ observations are necessary for the validation and verification of any coastal ocean model results, but they become even more important when trying to study shallow, near-shore circulation patterns. Performing extensive model-data comparisons is a significant component of the proposed research project, because it will help assess the adequacy of open boundary conditions, surface forcing, and parameterization (e.g., bottom friction, wind(wave)-induced mixing), therefore allowing significant improvement to simulation skills. Planned in-situ observations include the use of bottom-mounted acoustic current profilers, clusters of shallow-water surface drifters, shipboard acoustic current and T/S profilers, and an autonomous underwater vehicle (glider) for T/S/Chl profiling.
In summary, this research project will lead to the development and validation of a limited area, very high-resolution coastal ocean model for the Upper Florida Keys reef tract with the ability to perform real-time simulations to help understand reef-scale physical processes and their impact on larval retention/dispersion patterns. While the proposed research project is specifically aimed at understanding the relationship of coastal ocean physical processes to mass coral spawning events, the high-resolution model will also be useful for the study other types of dispersal patterns on the reef tract (e.g., those of other larval organisms, pollutants, sediments).
As a corollary, the proposed research project will attempt to link the deep and shallow reef environments in the Upper Florida Keys by contrasting the measurements available from the Aquarius Ocean Observatory (located near Conch Reef, depth range of ca. 20 to 30 m) with the planned in-situ observations and model development (focused on North Dry Rocks, depth range of ca. 5 to 10 m). Model-data comparisons will not only help validate the simulation results, but will also provide insight into the similarities and differences in the physical coastal ocean variability at these two sites (North Dry Rocks and Conch Reef, separated by ca. 25 km) along the reef tract.
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