Effects of Tidal Range Variability and Local Morphology on Hydrodynamic Behavior and Salinity Structure in the Caete River Estuary, North Brazil

Cavalcante, G; Feary, D; Kjerfve, B

Effects of Tidal Range Variability and Local Morphology on Hydrodynamic Behavior and Salinity Structure in the Caete River Estuary, North Brazil

Cavalcante, G Feary, D Kjerfve, B

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Publisher:: Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Cavalcante, Georgenes, Feary, David, and Kjerfve, Bjorn 2013, 'Effects of Tidal Range Variability and Local Morphology on Hydrodynamic Behavior and Salinity Structure in the Caete River Estuary, North Brazil', International Journal of Oceanography, vol. 2013, pp. 315328-1-315328-1 0.
Issue Date:: 2013

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Cavalcante, G	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Feary, D	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Kjerfve, B	en_US
dc.date.accessioned	2014-04-14T02:45:45Z
dc.date.available	2014-04-14T02:45:45Z
dc.date.issued	2013	en_US
dc.identifier	2012007757	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Cavalcante, Georgenes, Feary, David, and Kjerfve, Bjorn 2013, 'Effects of Tidal Range Variability and Local Morphology on Hydrodynamic Behavior and Salinity Structure in the Caete River Estuary, North Brazil', International Journal of Oceanography, vol. 2013, pp. 315328-1-315328-1 0.	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1687-9406	en_US
dc.identifier.other	C1	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/26478
dc.description.abstract	Tidal influence and local morphology on circulation and salt transport are investigated in the Caete river estuary, a well-mixed estuary along the north coast of Brazil. Velocity, temperature, and salinity data were collected in three different locations along the estuary?s main channel, over three single, 13?h tidal cycles. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between tidal distortion and salinity by using classical methods of comparison of three cross-channel circulation characteristics, as well as computation of salt flux and vertical mixing. Findings indicate a flood-ebb asymmetry in currents, due to the distinct funneling morphology of the estuary, with shallow marginal areas being dominant towards the estuary head, while both stratification and shear dominate near the estuary mouth. The tidal currents enhanced vertical diffusion in the mid- and lower reaches, explaining the prevailing weakly stratified conditions, while the dominant well-mixed conditions in the upper estuary are a result of a combination of stronger flood currents and negligible vertical saline gradient. The predominant downstream salt transport supports the conclusion that there is little accumulation of salt in the Caete river estuary. In addition, findings indicate that tidal correlation and Stokes drift are important components in the upper estuary, while tidal correlation played an important role in the middle estuary, with fluvial discharge most important in the lower estuary.	en_US
dc.publisher	Hindawi Publishing Corporation	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	International Journal of Oceanography	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Verified OK	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/315328	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience	en_US
dc.title	Effects of Tidal Range Variability and Local Morphology on Hydrodynamic Behavior and Salinity Structure in the Caete River Estuary, North Brazil	en_US
dc.type	Journal article
utslib.citation.volume	2013	en_US
utslib.location	USA	en_US
utslib.citation.startpage	315328-1	en_US
utslib.citation.endpage	315328-1 0	en_US
utslib.identifier.org	SCI.School of the Environment	en_US
utslib.for	040600	en_US
utslib.percentage	100	en_US
utslib.copyright.status	open_access

Abstract:

Tidal influence and local morphology on circulation and salt transport are investigated in the Caete river estuary, a well-mixed estuary along the north coast of Brazil. Velocity, temperature, and salinity data were collected in three different locations along the estuary?s main channel, over three single, 13?h tidal cycles. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between tidal distortion and salinity by using classical methods of comparison of three cross-channel circulation characteristics, as well as computation of salt flux and vertical mixing. Findings indicate a flood-ebb asymmetry in currents, due to the distinct funneling morphology of the estuary, with shallow marginal areas being dominant towards the estuary head, while both stratification and shear dominate near the estuary mouth. The tidal currents enhanced vertical diffusion in the mid- and lower reaches, explaining the prevailing weakly stratified conditions, while the dominant well-mixed conditions in the upper estuary are a result of a combination of stronger flood currents and negligible vertical saline gradient. The predominant downstream salt transport supports the conclusion that there is little accumulation of salt in the Caete river estuary. In addition, findings indicate that tidal correlation and Stokes drift are important components in the upper estuary, while tidal correlation played an important role in the middle estuary, with fluvial discharge most important in the lower estuary.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/26478