Abstract
The main objective of the research is to investigate the local energetic of the Florida Current and the potential impacts of turbines on the Florida Current/Gulf Stream system. A first series of simulations using HYCOM in a periodic channel configuration forced by a baroclinic flow are performed. An enhanced drag coefficient is applied at defined locations to account for the moored turbine. The impact of the intensity and the location of this drag on the circulation of the channel are assessed for this idealized case. A second series of simulations using a 1/12º Atlantic configuration of HYCOM analyze the impact of such turbines on the Florida Current-Gulf Stream System. Running each simulation for 1 year starting from year 10 of a climatological run, several values of drag coefficient (CT=> 0.1; 1; 5) are tested. Diagnostics of kinetic energy, transports (upstream and downstream of the turbine location) and power are analyzed.