HMSC Research Seminar- Measuring and modeling present and future water temperature changes in Yaquina Bay
Thursday, February 20, 2025 3:30pm to 4:30pm
About this Event
2030 SE Marine Science Dr, Newport, OR 97365
https://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/pastseminarsSpeaker: Margaret Conley, PhD student, College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University
Topic: Measuring and modeling present and future water temperature changes in Yaquina Bay
Water temperature is a key physical factor that influences ecology and biogeochemistry in estuaries, but estuarine temperature dynamics have not been well studied. We investigated temperature dynamics in the Yaquina Bay estuary, which experiences large seasonal variations in river, coastal ocean, and surface heat flux conditions. We collected more than two years of observations at nine sites throughout the estuary and found seasonal changes in temperature variability linked to river discharge, river and ocean temperature, and surface heat flux. We found that neap tides are associated with estuary warming in the spring and summer. Sloughs exhibit unique dynamics influenced by their morphology, including stronger diurnal heating and cooling in areas with extensive mudflats. To further explore present and future temperature in Yaquina Bay, we developed a 3D hydrodynamic model of the estuary using the Finite Volume Community Ocean Model (FVCOM). We used the model to test the importance of surface heat flux and found that it plays a critical role in warming the estuary during the summer, but a minor role in winter when estuarine residence time is short and control by ocean and river temperatures is more dominant. Future changes in atmospheric, oceanic, and riverine conditions associated with climate change could alter estuarine temperature, affecting habitat suitability for species of economic, ecological, and cultural importance such as oysters, eelgrass, and salmon.
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Dial-In Information
Password: 104815
Phone Dial-In Information
+1 971 247 1195 US (Portland)
Meeting ID: 971 3707 8566