A Simple Numerical Model for the Study of Baroclinic Estuarine Shelf Interactions

<p>A one and a half layer nonlinear <em>f</em>-plane numerical model was used to study estuarine-shelf interactions. The single active layer covered a domain consisting of a 100 km long by 20 km wide channel discharging onto a 100 km wide by 300 km long shelf. Channel and "western” shelf boundaries were no-slip, "eastern" or oceanic boundary was free-slip and "northern" and "southern" shelf boundaries were open. The channel was forced with a constant inflow velocity spun up from 2 cm s^-1 to 27 cm s^-1over five days. The model initial conditions were a flat interface at ten meters and zero velocity except at the inflow. Effects of varying interfacial friction, Newtonian cooling (vertical mixing of density or detrainment), channel configuration and wind stress were examined. The principal result was to show that Newtonian cooling rather than interfacial friction played key role in deceleration and stagnation of an intrusion on the shelf relative to the constant phase speed in the channel. Deceleration of the density intrusion along the shelf coast agreed with results of three-dimensional numerical models, some laboratory models and with certain observed features of the Chesapeake Bay plume, for example. Results of a three-dimensional model were qualitatively reproduced as were features of a model which explicitly allowed the density interface to surface; that is, the plume flow was anticyclonic and marked by a region of supercritical flow along its outer edge. There was an abrupt transition, marked by strong nonlinear dynamics, from the plume to a coastal jet. Effects of channel configuration agreed with results of other models. Effects of wind stress were not adequately modeled probably due to failure to resolve the Ekman layer.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Ocean & Earth Sciences

Year dc:date.available

1987

Author dc:creator

• Berger, Thomas J.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Chester E. Grosch
• Larry P. Atkinson
• Shenn-Yu Chao

• Numerical model
• Estuarine-shelf interactions
• Flow
• Ekman layer
• Single active layer
• Oceanography

Statement dc:rights

• <p>In Copyright. URI: <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/</a> This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).</p>

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/oeas_etds/110

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.odu.edu:oeas_etds-1116