JP Student Cruise

The coastal ocean of the Northeast US is marked by complex circulation patterns on the continental shelf and along the shelfbreak. This region has seen substantial changes recently, including instances of marine heatwaves, biological shifts, and increased shelfbreak exchange events. Although many factors contribute to these changes, increased formation of GS WCRs, in concert with the northward shift in GS position, have resulted in increased interaction between WCRs and shelf topography, dictating shifts in the circulation and stratification structures on the shelf and slope and related biological, chemical, and physical properties in the region. The overarching goal of this project is to c haracterize the structure of a WCR as it interacts with the shelfbreak front, and to identify impacts of this interaction on horizontal transport and vertical mixing of nutrients and phytoplankton. This survey will also serve as a training opportunity for Joint Program students. Project organization and execution will be led by a team of students, with support from WHOI’s Academic Programs Office. The educational goals of this cruise are to (1) provide students with experience using shipboard research techniques that they may encounter in their tenure in the JP, and (2) to serve as a community building opportunity.