Coastal Circulation and Water-Column Properties in the War in the Pacific National Historical Park, Guam— Measurements and Modeling of Waves, Currents, Temperature, Salinity, and Turbidity, April–August 2012 Open-File Report 2014–1130 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey FRONT COVER: Left: Photograph showing the impact of intentionally set wildfires on the land surface of War in the Pacific National Historical Park. Right: Underwater photograph of some of the healthy coral reefs in War in the Pacific National Historical Park. Coastal Circulation and Water-Column Properties in the War in the Pacific National Historical Park, Guam— Measurements and Modeling of Waves, Currents, Temperature, Salinity, and Turbidity, April–August 2012 By Curt D. Storlazzi, Olivia M. Cheriton, Jamie M.R. Lescinski, and Joshua B. Logan Open-File Report 2014–1130 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior SALLY JEWELL, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Suzette M. Kimball, Acting Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2014 For product and ordering information: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Suggested citation: Storlazzi, C.D., Cheriton, O.M., Lescinski, J.M.R., and Logan, J.B., 2014, Coastal circulation and water-column properties in the War in the Pacific National Historical Park, Guam—Measurements and modeling of waves, currents, temperature, salinity, and turbidity, April–August 2012: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2014- 1130, 104 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ofr20141130. Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also may contain copyrighted materials as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items must be secured from the copyright owner. ISSN 2331–1258 (online) Contents Abstract .......................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Project Objectives ....................................................................................................................................................... 5 Study Area .................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Operations...................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Equipment and Data Review ...................................................................................................................................... 7 Numerical Circulation Modeling ................................................................................................................................ 11 Modeling Approach ............................................................................................................................................... 11 Model Components ............................................................................................................................................... 13 Model Set-up ........................................................................................................................................................ 14 Model Scenarios ................................................................................................................................................... 17 Research Platform and Field Operations .................................................................................................................. 18 Data Acquisition and Quality ........................................................................................................................................ 18 Results ......................................................................................................................................................................... 19 Oceanographic and Atmospheric Forcing ................................................................................................................ 19 Tides ......................................................................................................................................................................... 19 Winds ....................................................................................................................................................................... 19 Currents .................................................................................................................................................................... 21 Waves ...................................................................................................................................................................... 27 Temporal Variations in Water-Column Properties .................................................................................................... 29 Spatial Variations in Water-Column Properties ......................................................................................................... 34 Lagrangian Surface Current Drifters ......................................................................................................................... 37 Numerical Circulation Modeling ................................................................................................................................ 37 Hindcast Test Cases ............................................................................................................................................. 37 Modeled Tide, Wind, and Wave Scenarios ........................................................................................................... 39 Modeled Dispersal Patterns along Western Guam ............................................................................................... 51 Discussion .................................................................................................................................................................... 54 Spatial and Temporal Variability in Circulation Patterns and Water-Column Properties ........................................... 54 Tides ..................................................................................................................................................................... 54 Winds .................................................................................................................................................................... 55 Waves ................................................................................................................................................................... 55 Modeled Surface Circulation Patterns ...................................................................................................................... 56 Conclusions.................................................................................................................................................................. 56 Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................................................................ 57 References Cited ......................................................................................................................................................... 57 Additional Digital Information ........................................................................................................................................ 59 Direct Contact Information............................................................................................................................................ 59 Appendix 1. ADCP Information .................................................................................................................................... 60 Appendix 2. PS, TL, CT, SLOBS, OBS, and WS Information ....................................................................................... 61 Appendix 3. Water Column Profiler (WCP) Information................................................................................................ 62 Appendix 4. Water Column Profiler Log: April 24, 2012 ............................................................................................... 63 Appendix 5. Water Column Profiler Log: August 16, 2012 ........................................................................................... 64 Appendix 6. Time-Series Plots ..................................................................................................................................... 65 Appendix 7. Maps Showing Variations of Water-Column Properties ............................................................................ 77 Appendix 8. Time-Series Plots and Maps of LCSD Movements .................................................................................