Open AccessComputing optimum estuarine residual fluxes with a multiparameter inverse method (OERFIM): Application to the Ria de Vigo (NW Spain)
Author(s) -
Gilcoto M.,
ÁlvarezSalgado X. A.,
Pérez F. F.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: oceans
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2000jc000665
Subject(s) - overdetermined system , estuary , residual , inverse problem , inverse , salinity , underdetermined system , environmental science , mathematics , oceanography , geology , mathematical analysis , algorithm , geometry
OERFIM is a two‐dimensional (2‐D) multiparameter inverse method for calculating estuarine residual fluxes and net ecosystem production rates in estuaries and coastal inlets. OERFIM retains the optimum solution for a weighted system of property conservation equations following the mean squares criterion. The properties involved are volume, salinity, temperature, nutrients (NH 4 + , NO 2 − , NO 3 −2 , and PO 4 −3 ), dissolved oxygen, and inorganic carbon. Derived variables such as NO, CO, PO, NCO, and PCO are also considered. OERFIM lies between optimum multiparameter analysis and inverse general ocean circulation models. The simplicity of the method allows for derivation of analytical solutions and a clear exposition of the estuarine box models evolution: from the pioneer, just determined Knudsen method to the overdetermined models such as OERFIM. The theoretical analysis also provides a coherent presentation of analytical errors and their relation to the weights entering the equations. We validate the method with field data from the coastal upwelling system of the “Ría de Vigo”, demonstrating that OERFIM results are suitable to understand the solution structure and, therefore, the whole system itself.