This study focuses on understanding the oceanic response to gap outflow and the air-sea interaction processes during the gap wind event between 26 and 28, February 2004 over the Gulf of Tehuantepec, Mexico. The U.S. Navy's Coupled Ocean Atmospheric Mesoscale Prediction System (COAMPS) and NPS Ocean Mixed Layer (OML) model was used to simulate the gap wind event and the temporal/spatial evolution of ocean response. Satellites, coincident in situ aircraft and AXBTs measurements of the sea surface temperature and the water temperature profiles collected during the Gulf of Tehuantepec Experiment (GOTEX) were used to define model initial conditions and aid the analysis of model results.

Results from the OML simulations suggest measurable SST evolution as a result of the enhanced upper ocean mixing along the jet axes. Model sensitivity tests show the dominant effects of surface heat flux in generating upper ocean mixing while mechanical forcing by the strong wind of the gap outflow has secondary effects. Sensitivity tests also suggest that the thermocline structure is the most important factor in determining the magnitude of the ocean response while variations in SST are not sensitive to upwelling for a short time scale of several days. The study of COAMPS/OML simulations and satellite (SST) images confirm the existence of a secondary gap outflow source in the area.