Overview of the Processes Driving Exchange at Cape Hatteras Program

The Processes driving Exchange At Cape Hatteras (PEACH) program seeks to better understand seawater exchanges between the continental shelf and open ocean near Hatteras, North Carolina. This location is where Gulf Stream transitions from a boundary-trapped current free jet, robust along-shelf convergence brings cool, relatively fresh Middle Atlantic Bight warm, salty South waters together, forming an important dynamic biogeographic boundary. magnitude of this implies large export water here. Background on oceanography region provides motivation for study gives context measurements that were made. Science questions focus roles wind forcing, lateral density gradients play in exchange. PEACH observational efforts include variety fixed mobile observing platforms, modeling included two different resolutions data assimilation schemes. Findings date mean circulation, nature southern shelf, variability, position variability Front are summarized, together with look ahead forthcoming analyses.