The importance of cross-shelf transport across the coastal shelves of Antarctica on local and remote processes has been well documented. Models and course observations in time and space have identified regions of enhanced cross-shelf transport of both the offshelf movement of dense bottom water and the onshelf movement of Modified Circumpolar Deep Water (MCDW). Since 2007, we have deployed a fleet of underwater gliding robots to locate and map these critical water masses at time and space scales not resolved before. In 2010-2011, we deployed multiplatform technologies across the Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP), Amundsen Sea, and Ross Sea including 8 gliders (six shallow and two deep) to map the movement of water masses across the shelves. The roles of thse gliders in the science plan included missions to: 1) identify specific water masses and high priority regions for ship sampling, 2) map spatial extent of features within the context of concurrent ship-board measurements to understand ecosystem wide processes, and 3) demonstrate the long-term capability to connect research facilities around the continent as a means to extend data coverage in time and space. The glider data resolves the small spatial and temporal scales of the deep water intrusions onto these shelves. In the WAP, long duration flights linking Palmer and Rothera stations show the concentrated pathways of UCDW onto the shelf associated with topographic canyons cutting into the shelf. Similarly in the Ross Sea, the flow of MCDW is seen over the western slopes of the banks along the outershelf. The intense sampling strategy completed in the Ross Sea system shows the significant temporal variability of this onshelf flow regulated primarily by the local tides.

Dr. Kohut received his Ph.D. in physical oceanography from Rutgers University in 2002. His interests include circulation processes on continental shelves and the impact of these processes on linked ecosystem processes. He utilizes ocean observing technologies including satellites, high-frequency radar, and underwater gliding robots as part of a research program that applies ocean observations to coastal research and decision making. Ocean observatories now sample the physical habitat at scales in time and space that allow us to address ecosystem wide questions. Continuous ocean observations capture both episodic events and long-term trends, enabling new looks at the physics of the coastal ocean. Cross-shore transport pathways, upwelling eddies driven by topography, buoyant plumes forced by sea-breeze circulation all have ecosystem wide implications.

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