Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001
| PC07 Spatial and Temporal Connections |
| Date: Wednesday, February 14, 2001 |
| Location: Southwest Hall |
| |
| Chan, T, U, Centre for Water Research, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia, chan@cwr.uwa.edu.au |
| Yeates, P, , Centre for Water Research, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia, yeates@cwr.uwa.edu.au |
| Imberger, J, , Centre for Water Research, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia, jimberger@cwr.uwa.edu.au |
| Hodges, B, R, Centre for Water Research, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia, hodges@mail.utexas.edu |
| Hamilton, D, P, Centre for Water Research, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia, hamilton@cwr.uwa.edu.au |
| |
| A COMPARISON BETWEEN FIELD AND MODEL OF TWO TIME SCALES OF HYDRODYNAMICS IN THE SWAN RIVER ESTUARY, WESTERN AUSTRALIA |
 |
| The Swan River estuary in south-west Australia has a highly seasonal stratification cycle. The onset of the inflow at the start of winter, and baroclinically-driven salt-wedge propagation following cessation of winter rains, were critical features in the observed distribution of salinity. The salinity distribution, timing of stratification, and orientation of isohalines with salt-wedge intrusion were examined in detail. These dynamics were captured with a hydrodynamic model, ELCOM. On a shorter time scale, the microtidal regime results in advection of seawater over a sill at the estuary mouth, plunging down the leeward slope and intruding below the ambient seawater. The tidal front progresses upstream as a bottom wedge until ebb tide, when the front collapses. This smaller scale cycle was also captured in the hydrodynamic model. Additionally, the tidal action generated internal features, including basin scale seiching and lee waves. These features were less successfully replicated by the model. The hydrodynamic features of this estuary which are important for the biogeochemistry and ecology have been simulated (in particular, the salinity distribution and stratification) and allow more complex ecological modeling. |
| |
| This Session Listing
|
Home | Information | Employment | Education | Meetings | Policy | Publications | Students | Forms | Search
Copyright © 2002 American Society of Limnology and Oceanography. All Rights Reserved
