Papers by Edwin Alfonso-Sosa
Naples Meteotsunami on January 17 2016
Postdoctoral Final Report: Figures
Meteotsunami de agua profunda en Arecibo impulsado por el pulso atmosférico negativo generado por la erupción del volcán submarino Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai resultó ser el de mayor altura en el registro moderno de meteotsunamis en Puerto Rico
Coastal Seiches, Internal Tide Generation, and Diapycnal Mixing Off Puerto Rico
High vertical diffusivity values, Kd > 6 X 10-3 m-2 s-1, were measured between SEP-DEC 199... more High vertical diffusivity values, Kd > 6 X 10-3 m-2 s-1, were measured between SEP-DEC 1997 and MAY-OCT 2000 in oceanic waters of the Mona Passage. These elevated diffusivities are associated with the presence of locally generated internal waves of semidiurnal frequency, with a reduction of the Richardson number at the base of the pycnocline, and with increased seiching activity over the southwest coast of Puerto Rico. The patterns of activity are strictly correlated with the lunar cycle and with changes in the stratification of the Caribbean Surface Water (CSW). Increases in the stratification of the water column are due to the influence of the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers. The development of a shallow pycnocline (thin mixed layer) increases the Brunt-Väisällä frequency and reduces the tidal beam slope. Under the proper astronomical forcing and vertical stratification conditions energy from the barotropic tide at or near the shelf break is transferred offshore towards the generation of internal tides and shoreward into the platform waters consequently increasing the coastal seiche activity. This work links a remote continental process such as the discharge of the Orinoco River to a coastal dynamic process in the northeastern Caribbean, such as the coastal seiches.
First Report of a Jet/Plume off Punta Este, Vieques
Comparison Between the Instantaneous Frequencies of the Offshore KdV Soliton Train and of the Coastal Shelf Response
Calculating the Speed of a Transatlantic Meteotsunami on June 13 2013
On June 13 2013, a pressure disturbance caused a tsunami-like wave along the East Coast of the Un... more On June 13 2013, a pressure disturbance caused a tsunami-like wave along the East Coast of the United States. It is not clear the exact origin point of this oceanic long wave. But at 1705 GMT was detected by the DART II Buoy (see Figure 1), NDBC Station 44402, located at Southeast Block Canyon - 130 NM SE of Fire Island, NY. The station’s water depth was 2443 m. Long waves speed is a function of water depth. Assuming this location as the Meteotsunami’s departure point, it was possible to calculate the distance and travel time of the long wave to various tsunami capable tide stations. These tidal stations are separated from the Dart Buoy by a long distance (> 1400 miles) and deep waters (> 3000 m), allowing us to easily calculate the Meteotsunami’s deep water speed. The 1-minuted sampled data was provided by the NOAA/NOS/CO-OPS website and the DART II Buoy data was obtained from the NDBC website. This valuable data allowed us to calculate for the first time the transatlantic Meteotsunami’s long wave speed.
Un mar de fenómenos oceánicos en Puerto Rico
Resumen de algunos de los fenómenos físicos oceánicos que ocurren en Puerto Rico.
TRAYECTORIA ANUAL DE LA PRODUCCIÓN PRIMARIA EN EL CARIBE ORIENTAL (PROGRAMA CaTS) ANNUAL TRAJECTORY OF DAILY INTEGRATED PRIMARY PRODUCTION AT THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN (CaTS PROGRAM)
La producción primaria diaria del fitoplancton fue estimada en la estación serial del programa Ca... more La producción primaria diaria del fitoplancton fue estimada en la estación serial del programa CaTS (Caribbean Time-Series Station, 17° 36’N, 67° 00’0) mediante incubaciones en un fotosintetrón usando radiocarbono, 14C. Generamos curvas de irradianza contra la tasa de fotosíntesis (curvas P-E) para obtener los parámetros fotosintéticos: alfaB, betaB, y PBs. Determinamos el valor de la constante de atenuación vertical, Kd (PAR), y la profundidad de la capa fótica mediante perfiles de irradianza descendente en la banda de los 400-700 nm, Ed (PAR,z). Se registró la fluorescencia de la clorofila-a in situ para generar un perfil vertical de la biomasa de fitoplancton distribuida en la columna de agua. La irradianza PAR en la superficie del mar, Ed (PAR,0), fue modelada mediante estimados de la cubierta de nubes tele detectada por satélites (International Satellite Cloud Cover Project). Modelamos la propagación vertical de la irradianza incidente en superficie utilizando el coeficiente de atenuación vertical de la luz difusa, Kd(PAR,z). Se integró numéricamente el perfil de la tasa de fotosíntesis hasta una profundidad de 200 m, limitando la integración a las horas de luz disponibles para fotosíntesis. La producción integrada (PP) osciló entre 62 y 943 mg C m-2 d-1. La producción anual es alrededor de 171 g C m-2 año-1. La trayectoria anual de PP muestra una distribución con valores elevados en: marzo-abril, julio y octubre. Esta estacionalidad coincide con la observada en la serie de tiempo de clorofila-a tele detectada por SeaWiFS en una banda entre los 15.6-17.6° N. El aumento en la producción primaria en marzo-abril esta asociado a la mayor disponibilidad de luz al fitoplancton profundo, a la influencia de aguas dispersas del Río Amazonas y a la presencia de fitoplancton con parámetros fotosintéticos favorables. El máximo de octubre se explica por la influencia del Río Orinoco pero el máximo de julio no parece estar asociado a influencia de los ríos. La estación CaTS muestra oscilaciones mayores en PP que no se observan en otras estaciones oligotróficas como BaTS y HOT.
Prediction of Midday Lowest Tidal Levels and Exposure of Coral Reefs in La Parguera, Puerto Rico
Capa de Aerosol Sahariana en el Caribe Nororiental precede la generación de los meteotsunamis en Puerto Rico
First MODIS Images Catalog of Aves Ridge Solitons in the Caribbean Sea (2008-2013)
Changes in the Duration and Peak of the Wave Season on Puerto Rico
Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) analysis was performed on wave height data recorded between ye... more Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) analysis was performed on wave height data recorded between years 2010-15 by NDBC and CariCOOS wave buoys located north of Puerto Rico. The analysis revealed that the eleventh intrinsic mode function (IMF) named C11 shows an annual time scale; this physical signal corresponds to the wave season on Puerto Rico. The peak and period between zero-crossings in C11 corresponds to the peak and duration of the wave season, respectively. The peak's position can shift from late January to early November. The duration of the wave season ranged between 5 to 8 months. The shift of the peak towards the month of November increased the wave activity during the month of November when the amplitude of the annual tidal constituent is larger and mean sea level is higher. These conditions were favorable for coastal erosion during the 2010-2011 wave season. Our results revealed the true exact form and variability of the wave season on Puerto Rico. The gradual increase of the annual wave heights in combination with the gradual increase in the annual tidal water levels could have an important effect on coastal erosion in Puerto Rico.
Analisis de las corrientes en el veril a las afueras de La Parguera usando el método EMD
Internal Solitary Waves Generated at Banco Engaño, Mona Passage
This is a summary of the findings regarding the generation of internal solitary waves (ISW) in Ba... more This is a summary of the findings regarding the generation of internal solitary waves (ISW) in Banco Engaño, Mona Passage. It identifies the source area of the ISWs and the right conditions for their generation.
Topographic Response of a Harbor during a Meteotsunami in the Puerto Rican Archipelago
This study is focused to determine amplification (or topographic response) in 12 harbors (bays) o... more This study is focused to determine amplification (or topographic response) in 12 harbors (bays) of the Puerto Rican Archipelago. On August 16 2011, a meteotsunami was detected by 12 NOS water-level stations. This singular event presents us with the unique opportunity to analyze high quality water-level data; that allow us to calculate the harbor's amplification for many harbors in Puerto Rico. It is important to know the topographic response of the harbors (bays) of Puerto Rico; this way we can identify those locations where their oscillations (coastal seiches) will be larger or last longer. In these harbors marine activities will be affected the most.
Método para la observación del Océano Índico Tropical mediante una red de estaciones seichelógicas
La seichelogía nos permite medir propiedades del interior del océano mediante un cuidadoso anális... more La seichelogía nos permite medir propiedades del interior del océano mediante un cuidadoso análisis de la señal del seiche costero. Resultados exitosos en el Mar Caribe sugieren que este método puede aplicarse en el Océano Índico Tropical. En este documento exploramos esa posibilidad
Bajamar extrema en la costa caribeña sorprende a los puertorriqueños
Cerca del mediodía del 24-25 de mayo del 2009, personas que visitaban la costa sur de Puerto Rico... more Cerca del mediodía del 24-25 de mayo del 2009, personas que visitaban la costa sur de Puerto Rico se sorprendieron al ver que la orilla del mar se retrajo unos 50 pies y que la altura del agua habia descendido medio pie, exponiendo rocas, corales, raíces de mangle que normalmente estaban sumergidas. Algunos ciudadanos se alarmaron porque pensaban que ocurriría un tsunami. El siguiente documento identifica que la bajamar extrema se produjo a la coincidencia de la marea de sizigia, la marea de perigeo y la marea tropical. Esta bajamar extrema se repite cada veinte años. Se espera que la próxima ocurra en mayo del 2029. El evento no estaba relacionado con un tsunami.
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Papers by Edwin Alfonso-Sosa