Abstract
AbstractGiven that few drifter experiments combined with a wave‐current coupled model system had been conducted in the complex nearshore area, this work was motivated to reveal the nearshore dynamics by applying an observation‐modeling system to Lake Michigan. Analysis of 11 surface drifters, wind, and current observations along the lake's eastern coast indicates that their trajectories are synergistically controlled by winds and initial releasing sites. Additionally, strong winds significantly impact nearshore dynamics, and the highly sensitive nearshore and offshore drifters are stranded in distinct regions. Simulations indicate that the model reproduces drifter trajectories and endpoints reasonably and that particle fates are mainly dominated by winds, while effects from heat flux and waves are also important. Further analysis of wave effects on particle dynamics indicates that both the wave‐induced sea surface roughness and Stokes drift advection are crucial to the simulated particle trajectories during wind events. Finally, virtual experiments confirm that particle dynamics are evidently susceptible to winds and initial locations. Overall, both the inclusion of physics effects (e.g., adding winds, heat fluxes, and waves) and diminishing the model uncertainties (e.g., from various wind data sources, wind drag coefficient formulations, model grids, and vertical turbulent mixing parameterizations) are important methods to improve the particle simulations. The successful application of this nearshore observation‐modeling system to Lake Michigan can be beneficial to the understanding of nearshore‐offshore transports and larval and fisheries recruitment success in similar freshwater and estuarine environments.
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