Abstract
Investigation of process controlling the estuarine-shelf interaction in the Patos Lagoon estuarine channel is accessed using a two-dimensional numerical model. Results obtained suggest this approximation provides good precision level to investigate the advective transport of oceanic waters near the estuarine mouth. The introduction of coastal waters in synoptic time scales is dominated by advection in sub-superficial layers. This process results from the competition between flood currents driven by remote wind effects and gravitational circulation controlled by the intensity of the freshwater discharge. The short term exchange processes follow one most energetic cycle of 8 days and intense flood events occur during periods of low continental discharge and higher intensity winds. Very stratified salinity profiles are found during periods of moderated freshwater discharge. The salt transport is inversely related to the freshwater discharge intensity. It presents a mean rate of the 105 kg.day-1 transported landward during flood events.
Highlights
During the last centuries the population has distributed along the coastal regions using the environment to live, work and to recreational activities
The global power spectrum of salinity and velocity (Figures 7(c) and (d), Figures 8(c) and (d)) corroborate this point of view indicating bottom energetic levels at least 3 times greater than superficial ones. These results suggest the dominance of remote wind effects controlling the exchange process
This paper suggests the use of two-dimensional numerical model to investigate the salinity behavior, in time and through the water depth, near the Patos Lagoon estuarine mouth
Summary
During the last centuries the population has distributed along the coastal regions using the environment to live, work and to recreational activities. Several studies have investigated the contributions of the wind effects and the freshwater discharge in synoptic time scales [2-8, among others] These studies highlighted the physical mechanism controlling the hydrodynamic process and salinity pattern along the estuarine region. The exportation of continental waters via Patos Lagoon channel contributes to high primary and secondary production along the adjacent continental shelf [9] This contribution influence directly the biologic dynamics of this region considered one the most important fishing zones of the Brazilian coast [10]. The knowledge of the process controlling the estuarine-shelf interaction is fundamental to manage correctly this coastal environment and their adjacencies In this way, the objective of this paper is develop a numerical model to estimate the salinity concentration near the Patos Lagoon mouth, based in current velocity measurements, giving an insight to the investigation of the exchange processes and salt mass transportation
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