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Bathymetry as an indicator of net circulation in well mixed estuaries 1
Author(s) -
Kjerfve Björn
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.1978.23.4.0816
Subject(s) - bathymetry , inlet , estuary , current (fluid) , oceanography , geology , channel (broadcasting) , salinity , circulation (fluid dynamics) , bedform , hydrology (agriculture) , geomorphology , sediment transport , sediment , physics , geotechnical engineering , electrical engineering , thermodynamics , engineering
In well mixed, high salinity estuaries of the southeastern U.S. the net circulation is mirrored in the bathymetry. Measurements in North Inlet, South Carolina, indicate a net current reversal across the estuary. The cross section bathymetry is usually bimodal with two channels separated by a shallow area. The deeper channel experiences ebb‐directed net flow with ebb‐oriented sand waves as the predominant bedform. In the shallower channel, the net current is flood directed. In well mixed estuaries similar to North Inlet, it may be possible to determine qualitative circulation features from a few lateral and longitudinal bathymetric traces without measurements of current velocity and salinity.