Reinhard E. Flick

Bio: Reinhard E. Flick is an academic researcher from University of California, San Diego. The author has contributed to research in topics: Wind wave & Sea level. The author has an hindex of 27, co-authored 72 publications receiving 2634 citations. Previous affiliations of Reinhard E. Flick include Scripps Institution of Oceanography & California Department of Parks and Recreation.

Currents in Submarine Canyons: An Air-Sea-Land Interaction

Abstract: x8090 Submarine canyons serve as active conduits joining the shallow waters of the shelf to the deeper waters offshore. Canyon currents are generated by many forces, including those related to wind, surface waves, internal waves, tides, and suspended sediment. Studies of canyon currents indicate that submarine canyons can generally be divided into deep- and shallow-water regimes that are dominated by specific driving forces. The deep-water regime is generally exposed to energy from tides, intern al waves, and spin-off eddies from large-scale current systems, whereas the shallow-water areas are dominated by currents related to surface waves and wind. Strong down-canyon currents appear to be caused by a unique combination of air-sea-Iand interactions consisting of 1. a pile-up of water along the shoreline caused by strong onshore winds; 2. down-canyon pulses of water associated with groups of high incident waves; 3. excitation of standing edge waves that produce longer-period up-and down-canyon oscillations; and finally, 4. the formation of discrete pulses of down-canyon motion, which become more intense and lead to sustained down-canyon currents, as the weight of the sediment suspended by the currents overcomes the density stratification of the deeper water. Simultaneous measurements of currents and pressure in Scripps Submarine Canyon, and of winds, waves, and pressure over the adjacent shelf have been made for several years, with the strongest down-canyon current measured, 1.9 m sec-1 at a depth of 44 m, being recorded during the

Dynamical suppression of sea level rise along the Pacific coast of North America: Indications for imminent acceleration

Abstract: [1] Long-term changes in global mean sea level (MSL) rise have important practical implications for shoreline and beach erosion, coastal wetlands inundation, storm surge flooding, and coastal development. Altimetry since 1993 indicates that global MSL rise has increased about 50% above the 20th century rise rate, from 2 to 3 mm yr−1. At the same time, both tide gauge measurements and altimetry indicate virtually no increase along the Pacific coast of North America during the satellite epoch. Here we show that the dynamical steric response of North Pacific eastern boundary ocean circulation to a dramatic change in wind stress curl, τxy, which occurred after the mid-1970s regime shift, can account for the suppression of regional sea level rise along this coast since 1980. Alarmingly, mean τxy over the North Pacific recently reached levels not observed since before the mid-1970s regime shift. This change in wind stress patterns may be foreshadowing a Pacific Decadal Oscillation regime shift, causing an associated persistent change in basin-scale τxy that may result in a concomitant resumption of sea level rise along the U.S. West Coast to global or even higher rates.

Climate change projections of sea level extremes along the California coast

Abstract: California's coastal observations and global model projections indicate that California's open coast and estuaries will experience rising sea levels over the next century. During the last several decades, the upward historical trends, quantified from a small set of California tide gages, have been approximately 20 cm/century, quite similar to that estimated for global mean sea level. In the next several decades, warming produced by climate model simulations indicates that sea level rise (SLR) could substantially exceed the rate experienced during modern human development along the California coast and estuaries. A range of future SLR is estimated from a set of climate simulations governed by lower (B1), middle-upper (A2), and higher (A1fi) GHG emission scenarios. Projecting SLR from the ocean warming in GCMs, observational evidence of SLR, and separate calculations using a simple climate model yields a range of potential sea level increases, from 11 to 72 cm, by the 2070-2099 period. The combination of predicted astronomical tides with projected weather forcing, El Nino related variability, and secular SLR, gives a series of hourly sea level projections for 2005-2100. Gradual sea level rise progressively worsens the impacts of high tides, surge and waves resulting from storms, and also freshwater floods from Sierra and coastal mountain catchments. The occurrence of extreme sea levels is pronounced when these factors coincide. The frequency and magnitude of extreme events, relative to current levels, follows a sharply escalating pattern as the magnitude of future sea level rise increases.

Storminess Variability along the California Coast: 1858-2000.

Abstract: The longest available hourly tide gauge record along the West Coast (U.S.) at San Francisco yields meteorologically forced nontide residuals (NTR), providing an estimate of the variation in ‘‘storminess’’ from 1858 to 2000. Mean monthly positive NTR (associated with low sea level pressure) show no substantial change along the central California coast since 1858 or over the last 50 years. However, in contrast, the highest 2% of extreme winter NTR levels exhibit a significant increasing trend since about 1950. Extreme winter NTR also show pronounced quasi-periodic decadal-scale variability that is relatively consistent over the last 140 years. Atmospheric sea level pressure anomalies (associated with years having high winter NTR) take the form of a distinct, large-scale atmospheric circulation pattern, with intense storminess associated with a broad, southeasterly displaced, deep Aleutian low that directs storm tracks toward the California coast.

Climate change scenarios and sea level rise estimates for the california 2008 climate change scenarios assessment

Abstract: Cayan, D., Tyree, M., Dettinger, M., Hidalgo, H., Das, T., Maurer, E., Bromirski, P., Graham, N., and Flick, R., 2009, Climate change scenarios and sea level rise estimates for California 2009 Climate Change Scenarios Assessment: California Energy Commission Report CEC-500-2009-014-D, 50 p. (on-line report in pdf format, 1851 KB)

The impacts of climate change in coastal marine systems.

Abstract: Anthropogenically induced global climate change has profound implications for marine ecosystems and the economic and social systems that depend upon them. The relationship between temperature and individual performance is reasonably well understood, and much climate-related research has focused on potential shifts in distribution and abundance driven directly by temperature. However, recent work has revealed that both abiotic changes and biological responses in the ocean will be substantially more complex. For example, changes in ocean chemistry may be more important than changes in temperature for the performance and survival of many organisms. Ocean circulation, which drives larval transport, will also change, with important consequences for population dynamics. Furthermore, climatic impacts on one or a few 'leverage species' may result in sweeping community-level changes. Finally, synergistic effects between climate and other anthropogenic variables, particularly fishing pressure, will likely exacerbate climate-induced changes. Efforts to manage and conserve living marine systems in the face of climate change will require improvements to the existing predictive framework. Key directions for future research include identifying key demographic transitions that influence population dynamics, predicting changes in the community-level impacts of ecologically dominant species, incorporating populations' ability to evolve (adapt), and understanding the scales over which climate will change and living systems will respond.

SYNTHESES The impacts of climate change in coastal marine systems

Abstract: Anthropogenically induced global climate change has profound implications for marine ecosystems and the economic and social systems that depend upon them. The relationship between temperature and individual performance is reasonably well understood, and much climate-related research has focused on potential shifts in distribution and abundance driven directly by temperature. However, recent work has revealed that both abiotic changes and biological responses in the ocean will be substantially more complex. For example, changes in ocean chemistry may be more important than changes in temperature for the performance and survival of many organisms. Ocean circulation, which drives larval transport, will also change, with important consequences for population dynamics. Furthermore, climatic impacts on one or a few leverage species may result in sweeping community-level changes. Finally, synergistic effects between climate and other anthropogenic variables, particularly fishing pressure, will likely exacerbate climate-induced changes. Efforts to manage and conserve living marine systems in the face of climate change will require improvements to the existing predictive framework. Key directions for future research include identifying key demographic transitions that influence population dynamics, predicting changes in the community-level impacts of ecologically dominant species, incorporating populations ability to evolve (adapt), and understanding the scales over which climate will change and living systems will respond.

The interaction between water movement, sediment dynamics and submersed macrophytes

Abstract: Water movement in freshwater and marine environments affects submersed macrophytes, which also mediate water movement. The result of this complex interaction also affects sediment dynamics in and around submersed macrophyte beds. This review defines known relationships and identifies areas that need additional research on the complex interactions among submersed macrophytes, water movement, and sediment dynamics. Four areas are addressed: (1) the effects of water movement on macrophytes, (2) the effects of macrophyte stands on water movement, (3) the effects of macrophyte beds on sedimentation within vegetated areas, and (4) the relationship between sediment resuspension and macrophytes. Water movement has a significant effect on macrophyte growth, typically stimulating both abundance and diversity of macrophytes at low to moderate velocities, but reducing growth at higher velocities. In turn, macrophyte beds reduce current velocities both within and adjacent to the beds, resulting in increased sedimentation and reduced turbidity. Reduced turbidity increases light availability to macrophytes, increasing their growth. Additionally, macrophytes affect the distribution, composition and particle size of sediments in both freshwater and marine environments. Therefore, establishment and persistence of macrophytes in both marine and freshwater environments provide important ecosystem services, including: (1) improving water quality; and (2) stabilizing sediments, reducing sediment resuspension, erosion and turbidity.