US Army Corps of Engineers: Engineer Research and Development Center (Knowledge Core) · 1961 · 78 citations · 0 references
Open access
Natural SciencesMarine SciencesOceanographyEstuarine OceanographyEstuarine SciencePhysical OceanographyEstuariesEstuarine DynamicsEstuarine Mixing ProcessesEstuarine ProcessesEstuarine StratificationMixing In EstuariesConvection In EstuariesEstuarine Salinity DynamicsEstuarine Salinity StratificationEstuarine Salinity StructureLongitudinal Salinity IntrusionSalinity IntrusionSalinity Intrusion ModelingTurbulent Mass Transfer
An experimental and analytical study of the basic factors which determine the instantaneous longitudinal distribution of salinity in a partially mixed estuary of constant section is presented. The mass-transfer equation is solved in two parts: (a) the quasi-steady-state convective-diffusion problem for an observer moving with the tidal velocity, and (b) the cyclic translation of saline water due to the tidal velocity. In the steady-state portion the apparent longitudinal diffusion coefficient is a function of the turbulence induced by the tide and of the internal circulations induced by the density difference. An expression is developed for the intrusion length as a function of the estuary length, mean depth, tidal amplitude and period, fresh-water discharge, ocean salinity, and estuary roughness. A stratification number is defined which expresses the degree of stratification or mixing in an estuary. (Author)