@article{bane_he_muglia_lowcher_gong_haines_2017, title={Marine Hydrokinetic Energy from Western Boundary Currents}, volume={9}, ISSN={["1941-1405"]}, DOI={10.1146/annurev-marine-010816-060423}, abstractNote={ The kinetic energy in ocean currents, or marine hydrokinetic (MHK) energy, is a renewable energy resource that can help meet global energy requirements. An ocean circulation model–based census shows that subtropical surface western boundary currents (WBCs) are the only nearshore, large-scale currents swift enough to drive large electricity-generating ocean turbines envisioned for future use. We review several WBCs in the context of kinetic energy extraction. The power density in the Gulf Stream off North Carolina at times reaches several thousand watts per square meter at 75 m below the surface, and the annual average power is approximately 500–1,000 W m−2. Significant fluctuations occur with periods of 3–20 days (Gulf Stream meanders) and weeks to months (Gulf Stream path shifts). Interannual variations in annual average power occur because of year-to-year changes in these WBC motions. No large-scale turbines presently exist, and the road to establishing MHK facilities in WBCs will encounter challenges that are similar in many aspects to those associated with the development of offshore wind power. }, number={1}, journal={ANNUAL REVIEW OF MARINE SCIENCE, VOL 9}, publisher={Annual Reviews}, author={Bane, John M. and He, Ruoying and Muglia, Michael and Lowcher, Caroline F. and Gong, Yanlin and Haines, Sara M.}, year={2017}, pages={105–123} }
 @inproceedings{he_bane_muglia_haines_lowcher_gong_taylor_2016, title={Gulf stream marine hydrokinetic energy resource characterization off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina USA}, DOI={10.1109/oceansap.2016.7485538}, abstractNote={The Gulf Stream off North Carolina (NC), USA has current velocities that approach 2 ms-1 and average volume transports of 90 Sv (1 Sv= 106 m3s-1) off of Cape Hatteras, making it the most abundant MHK (Marine Hydrokinetic Energy) resource for the state. Resource availability at a specified location depends primarily on the variability in Gulf Stream position, which is least offshore of Cape Hatteras after the stream exits the Florida Straits. Proximity to land and high current velocities in relatively shallow waters on the shelf slope make this an optimal location to quantify the MHK energy resource for NC. Multi-years of consistent current measurements beginning in August of 2013 from a moored 150 kHz ADCP at an optimal location for energy extraction quantify the available energy resource and its variability, and establish the skill of a regional ocean circulation model in predicting the MHK energy resource. The model agrees well with long term observed current averages and weekly to monthly fluctuations in the currents. Comparisons between the model and ADCP observed currents, and power density demonstrate the significant inter-annual variability in the Gulf Stream power density.}, booktitle={OCEANS 2016 - Shanghai}, publisher={IEEE}, author={He, Ruoying and Bane, John and Muglia, Mike and Haines, Sara and Lowcher, Caroline and Gong, Yanlin and Taylor, Patterson}, year={2016}, month={Apr} }
 @article{gong_he_gawarkiewicz_savidge_2015, title={Numerical investigation of coastal circulation dynamics near Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, in January 2005}, volume={65}, ISSN={["1616-7228"]}, DOI={10.1007/s10236-014-0778-6}, abstractNote={A realistic regional ocean model is used to hindcast and diagnose coastal circulation variability near Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, in January 2005. Strong extratropical winter storms passed through the area during the second half of the month (January 15–31), leading to significantly different circulation conditions compared to those during the first half of the month (January 1–14). Model results were validated against sea level, temperature, salinity, and velocity observations. Analyses of along-shelf and cross-shelf transport, momentum, and kinetic energy balances were further performed to investigate circulation dynamics near Cape Hatteras. Our results show that during the strong winter storm period, both along-shelf (southward) and cross-shelf (seaward) transport increased significantly, mainly due to increases in geostrophic velocity associated with coastal sea level setup. In terms of momentum balance, the wind stress was mainly balanced by bottom friction. During the first half of month, the dominant kinetic energy (KE) balance on the shelf was between the time rate of KE change and the pressure work, whereas during the stormy second half of month, the main shelf KE balance was achieved between wind stress work and dissipation.}, number={1}, journal={OCEAN DYNAMICS}, publisher={Springer Nature}, author={Gong, Yanlin and He, Ruoying and Gawarkiewicz, Glen G. and Savidge, Dana K.}, year={2015}, month={Jan}, pages={1–15} }