Spatial and Temporal Variability Analyses of the Chesapeake Bay Outflow Plume with Satellite Ocean Color Data

Estuarine outflow plume plays an important role in mixing processes between estuaries and the continental shelf. The Chesapeake Bay outflow plume has been subjected to intensive research, particularly in field investigation and numeral modeling. This study identifies the outflow plume from the Chesapeake Bay by utilizing satellite-based ocean color data (SeaWiFS and MODIS). By analyzing 11 years of SeaWiFS and 6 years of MODIS satellite observation data, the spatial and temporal characteristics of the Chesapeake Bay outflow plume are described. The general spatial pattern of the Chesapeake Bay outflow plume is presented, and the seasonal variability is determined. The time-averaged plume dynamic behaviors in the inner continental shelf are discussed by examining other related oceanographic data. In this study, the long-term various spatial and temporal analyses of the ocean color data are performed by the Giovanni, which is a robust, multifunctional, and easy-to-use web application used to visualize, analyze, and access the Earth science data.