Miles, TN; He, RY (2010). Temporal and spatial variability of Chl-a and SST on the South Atlantic Bight Revisiting with cloud-free reconstructions of MODIS satellite imagery. CONTINENTAL SHELF RESEARCH, 30(18), 1951-1962.

Abstract
Daily cloud-free data interpolating empirical orthogonal function (DINEOF) reconstructions of sea-surface temperature (SST) and chlorophyll (Chl-a) satellite Imagery are compiled into monthly mean Images for a six-year period (2003-2008) and used to identify their spatial and temporal variability on the South Atlantic Bight Monthly-mean SST has the highest variability on the inner-shelf decreasing seaward approaching the more stable temperatures of the Gulf Stream (GS) Monthly-mean Chl-a concentrations are similarly highest on the inner shelf throughout the year and decrease cross-shelf toward the nutrient depleted open ocean Empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analyses on SST and Chl-a show a clear seasonal cycle in their 1st mode of variability with SST lagging behind Chl-a by approximately one month The 1st EOF modes account for 95 8% and 46 4% variance of SST and Chl-a respectively Chl-a EOF mode 1 in particular shows a highly regionalized spatial pattern with values on the central SAB clearly out of phase with the southern and northern SAB This regional difference is likely a result of shelf geometry and stratification which modulate GS Influence on the shelf SST EOF mode 2 exhibits a seasonal cycle as well which previous studies have shown to be a function of local wind Chl-a EOF mode 2 is well correlated with the cumulative river transport onto the SAB but accounts for a relatively small 10 8% of Chl-a variability (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved

DOI:
10.1016/j.csr.2010.08.016

ISSN:
0278-4343