A Three-Dimensional Simulation of the Hudson–Raritan Estuary. Part II: Comparison with Observation

Abstract

Abstract Results from a time-dependent, three-dimensional numerical simulation of the Hudson–Raritan estuary are compared with observations. The comparison includes: 1) instantaneous salinity contours across a transect in the estuary; 2) amplitudes and phase of tidal constituents at four tide gauge and five current meter stations, 3) mean currents at nine meter locations, and mean salinity in the Hudson River, 4) kinetic energy spectra; and 5) response to wind forcing of subtidal current at an observational station near the mouth of the estuary. Observations confirm the model's prediction of existence of density advection instabilities induced by differential advection of the three-dimensional density field. These instabilities produce intense vertical mixing and should significantly modify dispersion processes in the estuary. Effects of neap–spring tides on vertical stratifications are also simulated by the model. Simulated M2 phase at three tide gauge stations show improvement over the M2 phases obtaine...