Abstract
Measurements of turbulent fluctuations of the horizontal and vertical components of velocity and of salinity in the region 1-1·25 m above the bed have been made in the Teign estuary during parts of three ebb tides of different tidal ranges. The turbulent mean flow field determined from vertical profiles of velocity and salinity varied from well mixed to partially mixed depending on the relative importance of the vertical gradient promoting effect of shear and longitudinal density gradient and of the mixing effect of bed-generated turbulence. The turbulence parameters showed regular temporal trends. The relative intensity values for the new and existing data for the velocity components are strongly dependent on relative depth but not generally affected by Richardson number. The intensity of the salinity fluctuations increased with the salinity gradients. The vertical transport of momentum and the vertical Reynolds flux correlation coefficients decreased with Richardson number. The horizontal Reynolds flux correlation coefficient increased with Richardson number. These effects are tentatively explained by the concept of turbulent fluctuations being replaced by wavelike fluctuations in stable conditions. Results for momentum and solute mixing lengths help to substantiate previously published values.
Published Version
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