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Processes of Stratification and Destratification During An Extreme River Discharge Event in the German Bight ROFI
Author(s) -
Chegini Fatemeh,
Holtermann Peter,
Kerimoglu Onur,
Becker Marius,
Kreus Markus,
Klingbeil Knut,
Gräwe Ulf,
Winter Christian,
Burchard Hans
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: oceans
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-9291
pISSN - 2169-9275
DOI - 10.1029/2019jc015987
Subject(s) - stratification (seeds) , plume , oceanography , baroclinity , discharge , geology , entrainment (biomusicology) , environmental science , hydrology (agriculture) , climatology , meteorology , geography , drainage basin , seed dormancy , philosophy , botany , germination , cartography , geotechnical engineering , dormancy , rhythm , biology , aesthetics
Processes of stratification and destratification in the German Bight region of fresh water influence (ROFI) are investigated following an extreme river discharge event in June 2013. For this purpose, a high‐resolution baroclinic ocean model is set up and validated against field data. The model results are used to study the temporal and spatial variability of stratification and the duration of persistent stratification in 2013. The relevant processes affecting stratification are investigated by analyzing the potential energy anomaly budget, with a focus on mixing and tidal straining. It is shown that the stratification in the German Bight is highly affected by the spring‐neap tidal cycle, with generally less stratification at spring tides due to dominant tidal mixing. It is also shown that the location of the river plume can modify this pattern. During spring tides, if the river plume is confined to the eastern region, stratification decreases significantly, as expected, due to the dominance of mixing over tidal straining. On the other hand, if the river plume moves toward deeper regions at spring tides, strong tidal straining becomes present. In this condition, mixing is weak, and the dominant tidal straining results in persistent stratification.

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