Author
Kenneth H. Brink
Other affiliations: National Research Council, Yale University, Oregon State University
Bio: Kenneth H. Brink is an academic researcher from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. The author has contributed to research in topics: Upwelling & Continental shelf. The author has an hindex of 45, co-authored 138 publications receiving 5341 citations. Previous affiliations of Kenneth H. Brink include National Research Council & Yale University.
Papers published on a yearly basis
Papers
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TL;DR: The main focus of the Coastal Transition Zone (CTZ) program as discussed by the authors was to find cold surface features often found in eastern boundary current regions, and these features represent the main focus for the coastal transition zone program, which took place in 1987 and 1988 off the northern coast of California.
Abstract: Filaments are cold surface features often found in eastern boundary current regions. A typical filament originates near the shelf and extends as a narrow (100 km or less) tongue extending hundreds of kilometers offshore. These features represent the main focus of the the Coastal Transition Zone program, which took place in 1987 and 1988 off the northern coast of California. The historical background for the program is discussed, as well as the questions that motivated it. The general approach of the program is described, followed by an overview of the initial findings, representing a summary of our current understanding of these features and their relation with eastern boundary current dynamics.
235 citations
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors focus on variability having time scales longer than a day but not more than a few weeks, and attempt to emphasize the relation between theoretical concepts and observed behavior in the coastal ocean.
Abstract: The 1970s saw a remarkable development in the understanding of wind driven current variability over the continental shelf, allowing Allen (1980) to summarize many of the keystones of our current understanding of the subject. Since 1980, our understanding of such processes has become a good deal more sophisticated, especially in terms of coastal-trapped-wave theory. In fact, the point has been reached where models and observations are now often compared with a reasonable expectation of quantitative agreement. Along the way, some exciting new physical insights have also been gained. It thus seems timely to revisit the problem of wind-driven variability over the continental shelf, and therefore the present offering is intended to be a continuation of Allen's (1980) original fine review. The following material focuses mainly on variability having time scales longer than a day but not more than a few weeks. In all cases, attempts are made to emphasize the relation between theoretical concepts and observed behavior in the coastal ocean. The approach is to address "water column" models in which nonadiabatic effects, while often present, are not of overwhelming importance. Within this classification, deterministic problems expressed in terms of coastal-trapped-wave theory are treated
220 citations
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TL;DR: In this article, the seasonal and spatial variability of the upper ocean response to the Monsoon cycle in the Arabian Sea was examined using four towed profiler surveys conducted between December 1994 and October 1995.
Abstract: Observations from four towed profiler surveys undertaken between December 1994 and October 1995 examine the seasonal and spatial variability of the upper ocean response to the Monsoon cycle in the Arabian Sea. Although observed atmospheric forcing agrees well with modern climatologies, cross-basin patterns of mixed-layer depth and water properties observed in 1994–1995 are not entirely consistent with an upper-ocean response dominated by Ekman pumping. During the winter monsoon, the mixed-layer deepens dramatically with distance offshore. Surface cooling intensifies with offshore distance, and a one-dimensional response dominated by convective overturning could explain observed wintertime mixed-layer depths. Except for waters associated with a filament extending offshore from the Omani coast, mixed-layer depths and water properties show only modest cross-basin contrasts during the Southwest Monsoon. Filament waters differ from surrounding mid-basin waters, having shallow mixed-layers and water properties similar to those of waters upwelled near the Omani coast. In September, following the Southwest Monsoon, waters within 1000 km of the Omani coast have cooled and freshened, with marked changes in stratification extending well into the pycnocline. Estimates of Ekman pumping and wind-driven entrainment made using the Southampton Oceanographic Center 1980–1995 surface flux and the Levitus mixed-layer climatologies indicate that during the Southwest Monsoon wind-driven entrainment is considerably stronger than Ekman pumping. Inshore of the windstress maximum, Ekman pumping partially counters wind-driven entrainment, while offshore the two processes act together to deepen the mixed-layer. As Ekman pumping is too weak to counter wind-driven mixed-layer deepening inshore of the windstress maximum, another mechanism must act to maintain the shallow mixed-layers seen in our observations and in climatologies. Offshore advection of coastally upwelled water offers a mechanism for maintaining upper ocean stratification that is consistent with observed changes in upper ocean water properties. Ekman upwelling will modulate wind-driven entrainment, but these results indicate that the primary mechanisms acting inshore of the windstress maximum are wind-driven mixing and horizontal advection.
197 citations
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TL;DR: The Nantucket Shoals Flux Experiment (NSFE79) as discussed by the authors was conducted across the continental shelf and upper slope of the South Atlantic from March 1979 to April 1980 to study the flow of shelf water from the Georges Bank/Gulf of Maine region into the Middle Atlantic Bight.
Abstract: The Nantucket Shoals Flux Experiment (NSFE79) was conducted across the continental shelf and upper slope south of Nantucket from March 1979 to April 1980 to study the flow of shelf water from the Georges Bank/Gulf of Maine region into the Middle Atlantic Bight. The experiment included a moored array of current meters and bottom instrumentation deployed at six locations across the shelf and upper slope spanning a depth range from 46 to 810 m, and supporting hydrographic observations. A basic description of the moored current and temperature data is given here with an emphasis on the low-frequency variability. In the summer period (April–August) when the local vertical stratification reached a maximum due to increased surface heating and reduced wind mixing, the mean flow over the shelf at all instruments was primarily along 1ocal isobaths towards the west. The subtidal current fluctuations were coherent both horizontally and vertically over the shelf, but not with current fluctuations observed ove...
187 citations
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01 Jan 1998
TL;DR: In this article, Royer et al. presented a pan-regional overview of the Western Ocean Boundary Shelves (WBSS) from the tip of Baja California to Vancouver Island.
Abstract: Partial table of contents: PANREGIONAL OVERVIEWS Western Ocean Boundary Shelves (J. Loder, et al.) Polar Ocean Boundaries (T. Royer & P. Stabeno) REGIONAL OCEANOGRAPHY Intra-Americas Sea Circulation (3,W) (C. Mooers & G. Maul) Coastal Ocean Circulation Off Western South America (6,E) (P. Strub, et al.) Coastal Oceanography of Western North America from the Tip of Baja California to Vancouver Island (8,E) (B, Hickey) Coastal Processes in the Northern North Pacific (9,P) (T. Royer) The Celtic Seas (19,E) (J. Simpson) Continental Shelf of the Bering Sea (24,P) (J. Schumacher & P. Stabeno) The Black Sea (28,S) (E. Vzsoy & \.
l ata) Seas of the Arabian Region (29,S) (C. Sheppard & D. Dixon) Index.
184 citations
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2,147 citations
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TL;DR: In this paper, an improved estimation of mesoscale surface ocean circulation was obtained by merging TOPEX/Poseidon (T/P) and ERS-1 and -2 altimeter measurements between October 1992 and May 1998.
Abstract: This study focuses on the improved estimation of mesoscale surface ocean circulation obtained by merging TOPEX/Poseidon (T/P) and ERS-1 and -2 altimeter measurements between October 1992 and May 1998. Once carefully intercalibrated and homogenized, these data are merged through an advanced global objective analysis method that allows us to correct for residual long wavelength errors and uses realistic correlation scales of ocean dynamics. The high-resolution (0.25°×0.25°) merged T/P+ERS-1 and -2 sea level anomaly maps provide more homogeneous and reduced mapping errors than either individual data set and more realistic sea level and geostrophic velocity statistics than T/P data alone. Furthermore, the merged T/P+ERS-1 and -2 maps yield eddy kinetic energy (EKE) levels 30% higher than maps of T/P alone. They also permit realistic global estimates of east and north components of EKE and their seasonal variations, to study EKE sources better. A comparison of velocity statistics with World Ocean Circulation Experiment surface drifters in the North Atlantic shows very good agreement. Comparison with contemporary current meter data in various oceanic regimes also produces comparable levels of energy and similar ratios of northward and eastward energy, showing that the maps are suitable to studying anisotropy. The T/P + ERS zonal and meridional components of the mapped currents usually present comparable rms variability, even though the variability in the Atlantic is more isotropic than that in the Pacific, which exhibits strong zonal changes. The EKE map presents a very detailed description, presumably never before achieved at a global scale. Pronounced seasonal changes of the EKE are found in many regions, notably the northeastern Pacific, the northeastern and northwestern Atlantic, the tropical oceans, and the zonally extended bands centered near 20°S in the Indian and western Pacific Oceans and at 20°N in the northwestern Pacific.
1,575 citations
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors review observations, theory and model results on the monsoon circulation of the Indian Ocean and discuss possible physical mechanisms behind seasonal variability of the meridional overturning streamfunction and heat flux.
1,437 citations
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TL;DR: It is shown that inferences of competence based solely on facial appearance predicted the outcomes of U.S. congressional elections better than chance and were linearly related to the margin of victory.
Abstract: We show that inferences of competence based solely on facial appearance predicted the outcomes of U.S. congressional elections better than chance (e.g., 68.8% of the Senate races in 2004) and also were linearly related to the margin of victory. These inferences were specific to competence and occurred within a 1-second exposure to the faces of the candidates. The findings suggest that rapid, unreflective trait inferences can contribute to voting choices, which are widely assumed to be based primarily on rational and deliberative considerations.
1,233 citations