Mooring Observations from the Mid-Atlantic Bight, July-September 1996. Synthetic Aperture Sonar Primer and Coastal Mixing and Optics Programs.

Abstract

Abstract : This report documents the observations of velocity, temperature and conductivity made in the Mid-Atlantic Bight region of the NW Atlantic Ocean during the Synthetic Aperture Sonar (SAS) Primer experiment. The primary data were obtained from instruments moored in 70 m of water near 40 deg 30' N, 70 deg 30' W, from July through September 1996. Vertical profiles of conductivity, temperature, light transmission and fluorescence were also made during deployment and recovery cruises. The overall goals of this PRIMER program are to assess the feasibility of the operation of an SAS on the continental shelf. A study of acoustic propagation was conducted during the period the mooring was deployed, from August 20 through August 27, by F. Henyey, T. Ewart, and K. Williams (Applied Physics Laboratory / University of Washington). The evaluation of the synthetic aperture sonar itself was performed by S. Stanic and R. Meredith (Naval Research Laboratory). This project was carried out in close cooperation with the ONR-sponsored Coastal Mixing & Optics ARI. In addition to shared logistical planning, we anticipate joint analysis and sharing of data. The specific goals of this project are to describe the internal wave field and associated sound speed fluctuations on the shelf--both statistically and by events. The sampling scheme was designed to resolve the many components of the wavefield including: near-inertial waves, internal tide, background continuum and internal solitary waves.