Applications of Mixing Experiments to Estuaries,
Abstract
The paper considers estuarine circulations in deep, two-layer, fjord-type estuaries. The first part of the discussion ignores the details of the mass distribution and the circulations in the main body of the estuary (except for a calculation of the depth of the halocline) and concentrates of the flow conditions and interface depth in the vicinity of the mouth. The flow near the mouth is considered to be frictionless and the pressure hydrostatic, and the first part of the analysis, which assumes strong mixing (and, therefore, a deep halocline) in the estuary yields the same results as those of Stommel and Farmer for an 'overmixed' state. Phenomena in this state are functions of a non-dimensional number Q, proportional to the fresh water influx q sub f. The second discussion presents a complete solution for flow conditions and mass distributions in a deep, two-layer rectangular estuary. Mixing occurs across the interface and friction is a dominant factor. The interface slopes downward toward the mouth reaching a maximum depth at a certain section. Beyond this the interface rises. At the mouth where, by definition, the width of the estuary increases rapidly, it is found that there must be a transition from subcritical to supercritical flow. The solution is determined by the fresh-water influx per unit width, the rms turbulent velocity, the estuary length and the buoyancy of sea water and has a reasonable behavior for variations of these parameters. A basic feature for fjord-type estuaries is the dominance of friction.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 12, 1975
- Accession Number
- ADA029221
Entities
People
- Robert R. Long
Organizations
- Johns Hopkins University