In a strong global warming scenario, declining nutrient concentrations of Atlantic water masses flushing the NWES lead to a reduction in the biological productivity on the shelf. We show that meltwater discharge from the Greenland ice sheet induces a change in the subpolar ocean circulation, resulting in a nutrient increase of deeper Atlantic water masses. These are mixed up at the shelf break and spread over the shelf, mitigating both the expected nutrient decline and productivity reduction.

The northern Gulf of Mexico is characterized by complex estuary–shelf–ocean interactions. We developed a 3-D model to represent these interactions. The model is validated with observational data and used to examine the remote influence of Mississippi–Atchafalaya freshwater discharge on Texas coastal systems. Numerical experiments reveal that the remote influence varies greatly under different wind conditions, suggesting great control from the shelf circulations on estuarine dynamics.

Salt intrusion in the Pearl River Estuary is a dynamic process that is influenced by a range of factors, and few studies have examined the effects of winds and waves. Therefore, we investigate these effects using the Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere-Wave-Sediment Transport modeling system in this region. It was found that enhancement of the salt intrusion is comparable between the remote and local winds. Waves decrease the salt intrusion by increasing the water mixing.