On the Lagrangian residual current and residual transport in a multiple time scale system of shallow seas

Abstract

A multiple time scale perturbation method is used to discuss the Lagrangian residual current and residual transport on the basis of a weakly nonlinear dynamic model of shallow seas. The governing equations for the long-term variation of zero order “apparent concentration” (which is a linear combination of salinity, temperature of seawater and the concentration of any tracer which is conservative and passive) and its mean value over tidal cycles are obtained for the system with single tidal constituent, and for the one with multi-constituents, winds and thermohaline. The equations for the two cases are in the same form and show this long-term variation resulted from the cumulative effect of residual convection and turbulent diffusion. The multiple time scale variation of current is caused by tides, winds, and the thermohaline and the nonlinear effects of the system. The derived set of governing field equations of the Lagrangian current for this multiple time scale system is also in the same form as that for a single time scale system.