Estuarine circulation

Definition of Estuarine circulation: Residual flow pattern in an estuary induced by the density difference between seawater and river water. This is the common definition for Estuarine circulation, other definitions can be discussed in the article

Introduction

Figure 1: Seawater intrusion in a longitudinal section of a prismatic estuary, represented by isohalines.

The classical theory of estuarine circulation was first developed by Hansen and Rattray in 1965 , after earlier investigations by D. Pritchard in the St. James river . Many other authors have subsequently contributed to further verification and refinement.

In the classical theory of estuarine circulation tidal motion does not affect the salinity distribution at the intratidal timescale. The tide moves the salinity field cyclically up and down the estuary without modification. The effect of tidal motion is therefore restricted to turbulence generation at the bed, which enhances momentum dissipation and mixing in and across the bottom boundary layer. Seawater intrusion is only driven by a longitudinal density gradient between water masses of different salinity. The corresponding residual flow is called (often without distinction) estuarine circulation, baroclinic flow or gravitational circulation.

Notation

In the following basic notions of the classical theory are presented. We consider a straight prismatic estuary (uniform depth [math]h[/math] and width [math]b[/math] ); the width is small enough for neglecting the influence of earth rotation (Rossby radius [math]U/fb \lt \lt 1[/math] ). We use the following notations (see also figure 1):

• [math]x[/math] is the coordinate along the estuarine axis ([math]x=0[/math] at the sea boundary, [math]x=L[/math] at the landward boundary of salt intrusion);
• [math]u[/math] is the velocity in the [math]x[/math]-direction, [math]u(z) = u_R + u_C(z) + U \cos \omega t,[/math] where [math]u_R[/math] is the velocity related to river runoff (river discharge divided by estuarine cross-section), [math]u_C(z)[/math] is the estuarine circulation, [math]U[/math] is the tidal velocity amplitude and [math]\omega = 2 \pi / T[/math] is the tidal radial frequency;
• [math]S=s/s_0[/math] is the ratio of the local salinity [math]s[/math] and the seawater salinity [math]s_0 :[/math] [math]S[/math] is related to the density [math]\rho[/math] by the relation [math]\rho=\rho_0(1+\beta s_0 S),[/math] where [math]\rho_0[/math] is the fresh water density and the expansion coefficient [math]\beta=7.7 \times 10^{-4};[/math]
• [math] p(z) = g \large \int_z^\eta \normalsize \rho dz[/math] is the hydrostatic pressure; [math]\eta[/math] is the surface elevation relative to a horizontal plane and [math]-z[/math] is the depth relative to the surface;
• [math]K_M[/math] is the eddy viscosity (vertical momentum diffusion coefficient [math][m^2/s] [/math] ) and [math]K_S[/math] the eddy diffusivity (vertical salinity diffusion coefficient).

Depth-averaging is denoted by an overbar.

Assumptions

The following additional assumptions are made:

• Vertical exchanges of velocity and salinity are described as a diffusion process;
• The diffusion coefficients [math]K_M, K_S[/math] do not depend on the spatial and temporal coordinates [math]x,z,t[/math] ; this means that the classical model is realistic only for continuously stratified estuaries (no layered salinity structure; such estuaries are often called "partially mixed", see figure 1);
• The river flow velocity [math]u_R[/math] and the tidal velocity amplitude [math]U[/math] do not depend on the spatial coordinates [math]x,z[/math] ;
• The river flow velocity is much smaller than the tidal velocity, [math]u_R \lt \lt U[/math] ;
• The water surface variation is much smaller than depth, [math]\eta \lt \lt h[/math] ; Stokes drift is neglected;
• The vertical flow velocity [math] w[/math] is neglected;
• Side wall effects are neglected, implying uniformity of all variables in lateral [math]y[/math]-direction;
• Longitudinal gradients in the velocity [math]u[/math] are neglected;
• The longitudinal salinity gradient is the same at all depths ([math]\Large \frac{\partial S}{\partial x}= \frac{\partial \overline S}{\partial x} \normalsize ).[/math]

The above assumptions clearly do not hold near the upstream and downstream boundaries of the salinity distribution; they can be considered reasonable approximations only for the central part of the salinity distribution.

Model formulation

Figure 2: Vertical profiles of estuarine circulation and salinity according to the classical theory (Eq. 4).

We consider the influence of constant river flow [math]u_R[/math] on the salinity distribution in a frame moving with the velocity [math]u_R + U \cos \omega t[/math] ; we thus have [math]u=u_C(z).[/math] In the moving frame the only driving force acting on the fluid is the pressure gradient

[math]\Large \frac{\partial p}{\rho \partial x} \normalsize = g \Large \frac{\partial \eta}{\partial x} \normalsize + g \beta s_0 \Large \frac{\partial S}{\partial x} \normalsize . \qquad (1) [/math]

The fluid acceleration caused by this pressure gradient is compensated by momentum dissipation through turbulent diffusion:

[math]\Large \frac{\partial p}{\rho \partial x} \normalsize = \Large \frac{\partial }{\partial z} \normalsize ( K_M \Large \frac{\partial u_C}{\partial z} \normalsize) . \qquad (2) [/math]

This equation can be solved considering the boundary conditions:

• No slip at the bottom: [math]u_C(-h)=0[/math] ;
• No momentum diffusion through the surface: [math] \Large \frac{du_C}{dz} \normalsize (0)=0[/math];
• No net discharge: [math]\large \int_{-h}^0 \normalsize u_C dz =0.[/math]

Because the river runoff is constant and the tide cyclic, the salinity distribution should not change with time in the moving frame. However, the estuarine circulation modifies the salinity distribution, because salt advection [math]u_C(z) S(x,z)[/math] has a gradient in [math]x[/math]-direction. The salt balance is restored by vertical diffusion of salinity:

[math]u_C \Large \frac{\partial \overline S}{\partial x} \normalsize = \Large \frac{\partial }{\partial z} \normalsize ( K_S \Large \frac{\partial S}{\partial z} \normalsize) . \qquad (3) [/math]

This equation can be solved with the boundary conditions:

• No salt flux through bottom and surface [math] \Large \frac{\partial S}{\partial z} \normalsize =0[/math] at [math] z=-h, z=0 .[/math]

The solution of equations Eqs. (1-3) reads (shown in figure 2):

[math] u_C(z)=u_E (1-9 \zeta^2-8 \zeta^3) , \; S=\overline S + s_C(z), \; s_C(z)=S_E (-5+30 \zeta^2-45 \zeta^4-24 \zeta^5), \; \zeta=z/h , \qquad (4) [/math]

[math]u_E=\Large \frac{g \beta s_0 h}{48 K_M} \frac{\partial \overline S}{\partial x} \normalsize , \; S_E=\Large \frac{h^2 u_E}{60 K_S} \frac{\partial \overline S}{\partial x} \normalsize . \qquad (5) [/math]

A frequently used estimate of the eddy viscosity is [math]K_M=hU_*^2/U,[/math] where [math]U_*=\sqrt{c_D}U[/math] is the friction velocity. We then find that the estuarine circulation [math]u_E[/math] is related to the Simpson stratification number [math] Si[/math] :

[math]u_E=\Large \frac{U}{48} \normalsize Si , \quad Si=\Large \frac{g}{\rho} \frac{\partial \rho}{\partial x} \frac{h^2}{U_*^2} \normalsize . \qquad (6) [/math]

Salt balance

The motion in the moving frame is not exactly cyclic; after one tide the moving frame has moved seaward over a distance [math]T u_R[/math] . In order to prevent flushing of the salinity a net landward salt transport should exist. Many seawater intrusion mechanisms can contribute to landward salt transport, as discussed in Seawater intrusion and mixing in estuaries. In this case, we assume that estuarine circulation is the primary mechanism for seawater intrusion. This means that the loss of salt content from the estuary due to the net shift of the moving frame, [math]Thu_rS[/math] , should be compensated by salt transport related to estuarine circulation:

[math]hu_RS=\large \int_{-h}^0 \normalsize u_C(z)S(z) dz . \qquad (7) [/math]

Evaluation of the integral gives, using Eqs. (4,5),

[math]S=L^3 (\Large \frac{\partial \overline S}{\partial x})^3 \normalsize, \; L=0.024 h (\Large \frac{c}{u_R})^{1/3} \frac{hc}{(K_S K_M^2)^{1/3}} \normalsize , \; c=\sqrt{\beta s_0 gh} . \qquad (8) [/math]

[math]L[/math] is an estimate for the length of the seawater intrusion due to estuarine circulation; [math]c[/math] is the internal wave speed in a fresh water layer of depth [math]h[/math] overlying seawater. By approximating [math]\partial \overline S / \partial x \approx - 1 / L[/math] the maximum estuarine circulation velocity can be written as

[math]u_E=0.87(u_R c^2 \Large \frac{K_S}{K_M})^{1/3} \normalsize. \qquad (9) [/math]

In general [math]u_E\gt \gt u_R .[/math]

Stratification

Figure 3: Schematic representation of estuarine circulation in a prismatic channel.

From equation (4) it follows that estuarine circulation corresponds to a net landward flow in a near bottom layer of thickness [math]h_2 \approx 0.58 h[/math] and a net seaward flow of the same order in the upper layer, see figure 3. By calling [math]s_1,Q_1[/math] the average salinity and average discharge in the upper layer and [math]s_2,Q_2[/math] the average salinity and discharge in the bottom layer, we can determine the average salinity difference [math]\Delta s = s_2-s_1[/math] ("stratification") from the condition of net zero salt transport:

[math]s_1Q_1 + s_2Q_2 =0 , \qquad (10) [/math]

[math]Q_1 \approx -Q_2 - hbu_R \approx b \large \int_{-h_2}^0 \normalsize u_C dz \approx -0.26hu_E . \qquad (11) [/math]

This gives [math] \Delta s / s \approx 4.4 u_R / u_E . \qquad (12) [/math]

The "bulk" Richardson number [math]Ri= \Delta \rho gh / U^2[/math] is a measure for the degree of stratification in an estuary. For small Richardson numbers (typically smaller than 0.25) the diffusion coefficients are not strongly influenced by vertical density gradients. In this case one may approximate [math]K_M \approx K_S \approx K = c_D hU.[/math] The friction coefficient [math]c_D[/math] is of the order of 0.002. Substitution in the expressions for [math]L[/math] (Eq. 8), [math]u_E[/math] (Eq. 9) and [math]\Delta s[/math] (Eq. 12) yields

[math] u_E=0.87 (u_R c^2)^{1/3} , \; \Large \frac{\Delta s}{s} \normalsize = 4.4 \; (\large \frac{u_R}{c})^{2/3} \normalsize , \; L = \large \frac{0.024}{c_D} \normalsize h \; (\large \frac{c}{u_R})^{1/3} \frac{c}{U} \normalsize. \qquad (13) [/math]

The estuarine circulation and the stratification increase with increasing river runoff; they do not depend on the tidal velocity.

In case of strong (but continuous) stratification the Richardson number is larger than 1. In this case the diffusion coefficients [math]K_M, K_S[/math] depend on [math]Ri[/math] and are strongly reduced following the relations of Munk-Anderson

[math]K_M = K(1+10Ri)^{-1/2} \approx 0.316 K Ri^{-1/2} , \; K_S = K (1+3.3Ri)^{-3/2} \approx 0.167 K Ri^{-3/2} , \; Ri=(\large \frac{c}{U} )^2 \frac{ \Delta s}{s} \normalsize . \qquad (14) [/math]

Substitution of these approximations yields

[math]u_E=0.3 U , \; \Large \frac{\Delta s}{s} \normalsize = 13 \large \frac{u_R}{U} \normalsize , \; L = \large \frac{0.8}{c_D} \normalsize h \; (\large \frac{c}{U})^3 (\frac{u_R}{U})^{1/2}\normalsize . \qquad (15) [/math]

With an increase of runoff [math]u_R[/math] the estuarine circulation [math]u_E[/math] remains unchanged, whereas the intrusion length [math]L[/math] increases. This counterintuitive result is due to the strong increase of stratification with increasing runoff.

Observations

The assumption that seawater intrusion is due only to gravitational circulation strongly limits the salt intrusion length [math]L.[/math] The previous formulas indicate for realistic values [math]U=1 m/s, u_R=0.05 m/s, c_D=0.001-0.003[/math] an intrusion length [math]L \approx 2-5 km.[/math] Observed salt intrusion lengths are typically several times larger (see Seawater intrusion and mixing in estuaries). This reduces the value of the estuarine circulation [math]u_E[/math] by a similar factor, according to the classical theory. However, field observations indicate that residual circulation can be considerable (order 10 cm/s), even in the case of small longitudinal and vertical salinity gradients. Reasons will be discussed is the following paragraph.

Asymmetric Tidal Mixing

Figure 4: Schematic representation of vertical profiles of salinity (right) and along-channel velocity (left) for flood and ebb.

In 1986, Van Aken explained the onset of seasonal stratification in the North Sea by the process of tidal advection of surface water with lower density, related to the presence of strong salinity gradients. A few years later, Simpson et al. observed and modeled tidal variation of stratification in Liverpool Bay by this differential advection mechanism, which they called "tidal straining". Numerical model studies by Jay and Musiak and Scott revealed that tidal straining can strongly influence estuarine circulation. When during flood high salinity seawater enters the estuary, the less dense estuarine surface water is repulsed. Vertical salinity stratification is therefore reduced, a process further strengthened in some cases by convective overturning . For sufficiently weak stratification, the surface flow exchanges momentum with the near-bottom flow, which is accelerated in upstream direction. During ebb, the tidal flow restores stratification, by advecting less dense estuarine waters seaward over the denser near-bottom waters. The momentum exchange between surface and near-bottom water is now reduced; seaward tidal flow is concentrated near the surface, see figure 4. The net effect is an enhancement of residual landward near-bottom flow, as shown by numerical experiments .

Enhancement of estuarine circulation by asymmetric tidal mixing only occurs in situations of weak stratification. In case of strong stratification (weak tides, high river runoff) momentum exchange between surface and near-bottom water hardly occurs (see Salt wedge estuaries). The major effect of weak tides in the latter case is an increase of eddy viscosity in the bottom layer, which reduces gravitational circulation . Enhancement of estuarine circulation by asymmetric tidal mixing is strongest for small Simpson numbers (typically [math]Ri \lt 1[/math]) and periodic or weak stratification.

Figure 5: Velocity and salinity distributions in a longitudinal section of Rotterdam Waterway on 9 September 1967 at different tidal phases: at the end of flood tide (H.S.W.=high slack water), during maximum ebb flow, at the end of ebb tide (L.W.S.-low slack water) and during maximum flood flow. The local salinity maximum halfway the estuary at maximum ebb is related to outflow of the Old Meuse tributary. Characteristics of Rotterdam Waterway are: approximately prismatic channel, width 300 m, depth 15 m, tidal range 2 m, maximum depth-averaged tidal velocity 1 m/s.

Figure 5 illustrates asymmetric tidal mixing in Rotterdam Waterway. The velocity and salinity profiles were measured on 9 September 1967 at an estimated net discharge of about 1000 m3/s (runoff velocity [math]u_R \approx 0.2 m/s[/math]). Characteristic values of the Richardson and Simpson numbers are [math]Ri \approx 1.8, Si \approx 0.5 .[/math] The sections at maximum ebb and maximum flood flow display asymmetry between near-bottom flow velocities; near-bottom velocities are substantially higher during flood than during ebb (as schematically depicted in figure 4). The sections at H.S.W. and L.S.W. show asymmetry in stratification: at the end of the flood the water column is less stratified than at the end of the ebb. Another survey in Rotterdam Waterway was conducted by De Nijs et al. in 2006 at higher river discharge (stronger stratification) . These authors show that in Rotterdam Waterway asymmetry in tidal mixing is primarily related to asymmetry of the tide at the mouth (faster tidal rise than tidal fall, which enhances flood currents over ebb currents), more than to differential advection. This is consistent with the fast thickening of the bottom boundary layer during flood, caused by strong bed-generated turbulence. A similar behaviour was observed in the Hudson estuary .

Lateral estuarine circulation

Figure 6: Lateral density-driven exchange flow related to cross-channel depth variation. Panel a: Cross-sectional salinity distribution and flow pattern shortly before the end of the flood phase. Higher salinity is indicated by darker blue. Panel b: The same in the last phase of ebb. The strength of along-channel flood flow in different parts of the cross-section is indicated by crossed circles; the strength of ebb flow by dotted circles. The lateral exchange flow influences the strength and the distribution of longitudinal estuarine circulation by altering the vertical distribution of along-channel flood and ebb flow. Panel c: Residual flow pattern (estuarine circulation). The crossed circle indicates up-estuary residual flow and the dotted circles down-estuary residual flow.

In straight natural estuaries the depth decreases towards the lateral boundaries (in a meander the depth decreases towards the inner channel bend). Tidal velocities are lower near the channel banks than at the channel centre. The salinity front is therefore not advected at the same speed at different lateral locations. This results in lateral salinity gradients. During flood (especially shortly before the end of the flood phase) the salinity is higher at the channel centre than near the channel banks. During ebb the situation is reversed; near the surface, the salinity at the channel centre is lower than near the channel banks. The lateral salinity gradients, related to differential tidal salinity advection, induce a baroclinic (density-driven) current. This current has a vertical structure; during flood it is directed near the bottom toward the channel banks and toward the channel centre near the surface, see figure 6. The resulting flow convergence at the channel centre is often visible in the field by a scum line following the channel axis . During ebb the lateral exchange flow is divergent at the surface and convergent near the bottom. This lateral baroclinic exchange flow has important consequences for longitudinal dispersion in natural estuaries, as first pointed out by R. Smith , see also Seawater intrusion and mixing in estuaries.

Lateral exchange flows also influence estuarine circulation. Downwelling flow at the channel axis during flood transports momentum down the vertical; surface flow is decelerated and near bottom flow accelerated in up-estuary direction. During ebb, vertical momentum transport reduces turbulent momentum dissipation by reducing the vertical shear of the tidal current. This also favours the baroclinic flow component . Lateral baroclinic exchange flow therefore enhances estuarine circulation. It also induces an a net downstream flow component in the shallower parts of the cross-section (lateral inflow of down-estuary momentum from the channel centre during ebb, outflow of up-estuary momentum toward the channel centre during flood, see figure 6); this flow component enhances the down-estuary flow component related to river runoff .

Other lateral circulation patterns

Figure 7: Influence of earth rotation on estuarine circulation. The up-estuary residual flow (crossed circles) is shifted toward the right channel bank (looking in up-estuary direction, northern hemisphere) and the down-estuary residual flow (dotted circles) toward the left bank.

Several mechanisms can alter the symmetric flow pattern of figure 6. In wide estuaries the symmetry is broken by earth rotation. Currents are deviated to the right on the northern hemisphere and to the left on the southern hemisphere (see Coriolis acceleration). Looking in up-estuary direction, flood currents are concentrated at the right side of a straight tidal channel and ebb currents at the left side (northern hemisphere). Estuarine circulation is influenced by earth rotation in a similar way : the residual up-estuary flow is shifted to the right bank and the down-estuary flow to the left bank, see figure 7. The mean cross-sectional salinity distribution is tilted accordingly.

Channel meandering induces transverse circulation, directed to the inner channel bend in the lower part of the vertical and to the outer bend near the surface. The spiraling tidal flow modifies the salinity distribution and the density-driven longitudinal residual flow in a similar way as earth rotation when the tidal flow follows a channel meander with the inner channel bend at the right bank . For an inner channel bend at the left bank the picture is mirrored; in this case the effects of channel meandering and earth rotation are opposite. Channel bends and other topographic structures (bars, shoals) generate longitudinal circulating flow patterns in estuaries also in the absence of density differences. These horizontal topographically induced flow circulations are often stronger than horizontal estuarine circulation generated by density gradients. However, residual flow circulation in the longitudinal-vertical plane is mainly due to the density difference between seawater and river water.

Consequence of estuarine circulation

Estuarine circulation is highly relevant for transport of fine sediments and sedimentation (see Dynamics of mud transport). The up-estuary near-bottom flow captures a substantial part of the downstream flux of fluvial sediment, and moves this sediment back toward the tip of the salt intrusion zone. The up-estuary near-bottom flow contributes also to import of marine sediment into the estuary. This sediment settles on the bed during periods of neap tide and slack water. It is resuspended in periods of high tidal currents, leading to a strong increase in turbidity. Decomposition of organic material in the high turbidity zone can cause oxygen depletion, especially in the lower part of the vertical where mixing with oxygen-rich surface water is inhibited by stratification. However, estuarine circulation is not the only cause of up-estuary sediment transport. Many field and model investigations show that tidal asymmetry due to non-linear tidal propagation in shallow water (leading to stronger flood currents than ebb currents and longer high-water slack periods than low-water slack periods) is often a more important mechanism.

Related articles

Salt wedge estuaries

Seawater intrusion and mixing in estuaries

Coriolis acceleration

Dynamics of mud transport

References

The main author of this article is Job Dronkers Please note that others may also have edited the contents of this article. Citation: Job Dronkers (2019): Estuarine circulation. Available from http://www.coastalwiki.org/wiki/Estuarine_circulation [accessed on 24-11-2024] For other articles by this author see Category:Articles by Job Dronkers For an overview of contributions by this author see Special:Contributions/Dronkers J