Tidal Variation in Turbulent Eddy Sizes in an Estuary

Abstract

Density microstructure measurements made in a tidal channel in South San Francisco Bay showed that the vertical length scale of turbulent eddies was proportional to current speed during spring tide but was largest during the flood at neap tide, and varied up to five-fold over a tidal cycle. The data were collected using a free-falling fast-response CTD at two locations and over three tidal cycles. Turbulent overturning eddies were identified from the vertical distribution of Thorpe displacements, and their vertical length scale obtained from the mean Thorpe scale over the depth interval of the eddy. Minimum eddy sizes occurred at, or just after, slack water. The largest eddies were observed during maximum to late flood when the vertical stratification was least.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2005
Accession Number
ADA573634

Entities

People

  • Linda M. Huzzey
  • Thomas M. Powell

Organizations

  • United States Coast Guard Academy

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Sensors

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Bays
  • Boundaries
  • Boundary Layer
  • Displacement
  • Dissipation
  • Intervals
  • Layers
  • Measurement
  • Microstructure
  • Mixing
  • San Francisco Bay
  • Shear Stresses
  • Stratification
  • Stresses
  • Tidal Currents
  • Turbulence
  • Turbulent Mixing

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science / Meteorology, specifically Wind Wave Turbulence.
  • Coastal and Marine Engineering/Sediment Transport/Hydraulic Engineering
  • Oceanography.