A Dynamic Estuarine Classification of the Vertical Structure Based on the Water Column Density Slope and the Potential Energy Anomaly
The aim of this work is to develop a new estuarine classification attending to their vertical structure by examining the advantages and disadvantages of the existing classifications. For this purpose, we reviewed the main classifications, finding that most of them analyze the entire estuary as a uni...
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/18/3294 |
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| author | Jagoba Lupiola Javier F. Bárcena Javier García-Alba Andrés García |
| author_facet | Jagoba Lupiola Javier F. Bárcena Javier García-Alba Andrés García |
| author_sort | Jagoba Lupiola |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The aim of this work is to develop a new estuarine classification attending to their vertical structure by examining the advantages and disadvantages of the existing classifications. For this purpose, we reviewed the main classifications, finding that most of them analyze the entire estuary as a unique water body without considering the spatiotemporal variability of the mixing zone in estuaries. Furthermore, the proposed classifications require the calculation of parameters that are not easily measurable, such as tidal current amplitude. Thus, we developed a new classification based on density profile slopes of the water column, which has been correlated to the potential energy anomaly. To test this classification, the proposed method was applied to the Suances estuary (Spain) during the year 2020 and to analyze the potential estuarine modifications under four climate change projections (RCP 4.5 and 8.5 for the years 2050 and 2100). To carry out this study, a calibrated and validated high-resolution horizontal and vertical 3D model was used. The application showed a high variability in the vertical structure of the estuary due to the tide and river. According to the proposed classification, the well mixed category was predominant in the estuary in 2020 and tended to grow in the projections of climate change. As a result, the fully mixed and weakly stratified mixing classes were reduced in the projected scenarios due to a decrease of external forcing, such as river flow and sea level rise. Furthermore, areas classified as stratified tended to move upstream of the estuary. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:50:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-243b12f0538d4f18a1b21e94c96f5afe |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:50:18Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-243b12f0538d4f18a1b21e94c96f5afe2023-11-19T13:26:35ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412023-09-011518329410.3390/w15183294A Dynamic Estuarine Classification of the Vertical Structure Based on the Water Column Density Slope and the Potential Energy AnomalyJagoba Lupiola0Javier F. Bárcena1Javier García-Alba2Andrés García3Team Ingeniería y Consultoría S.L., Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Bizkaia, 207C, 48170 Zamudio, SpainIHCantabria—Instituto de Hidráulica Ambiental de la, Universidad de Cantabria, Isabel Torres, 15, Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Cantabria, 39011 Santander, SpainIHCantabria—Instituto de Hidráulica Ambiental de la, Universidad de Cantabria, Isabel Torres, 15, Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Cantabria, 39011 Santander, SpainIHCantabria—Instituto de Hidráulica Ambiental de la, Universidad de Cantabria, Isabel Torres, 15, Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Cantabria, 39011 Santander, SpainThe aim of this work is to develop a new estuarine classification attending to their vertical structure by examining the advantages and disadvantages of the existing classifications. For this purpose, we reviewed the main classifications, finding that most of them analyze the entire estuary as a unique water body without considering the spatiotemporal variability of the mixing zone in estuaries. Furthermore, the proposed classifications require the calculation of parameters that are not easily measurable, such as tidal current amplitude. Thus, we developed a new classification based on density profile slopes of the water column, which has been correlated to the potential energy anomaly. To test this classification, the proposed method was applied to the Suances estuary (Spain) during the year 2020 and to analyze the potential estuarine modifications under four climate change projections (RCP 4.5 and 8.5 for the years 2050 and 2100). To carry out this study, a calibrated and validated high-resolution horizontal and vertical 3D model was used. The application showed a high variability in the vertical structure of the estuary due to the tide and river. According to the proposed classification, the well mixed category was predominant in the estuary in 2020 and tended to grow in the projections of climate change. As a result, the fully mixed and weakly stratified mixing classes were reduced in the projected scenarios due to a decrease of external forcing, such as river flow and sea level rise. Furthermore, areas classified as stratified tended to move upstream of the estuary.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/18/3294estuarine stratification and mixingdensity profile slope (<i>m</i>)potential energy anomaly (<i>ϕ</i>)artificial neural network (ANN)3D hydrodynamic modellingclimate change projections |
| spellingShingle | Jagoba Lupiola Javier F. Bárcena Javier García-Alba Andrés García A Dynamic Estuarine Classification of the Vertical Structure Based on the Water Column Density Slope and the Potential Energy Anomaly Water estuarine stratification and mixing density profile slope (<i>m</i>) potential energy anomaly (<i>ϕ</i>) artificial neural network (ANN) 3D hydrodynamic modelling climate change projections |
| title | A Dynamic Estuarine Classification of the Vertical Structure Based on the Water Column Density Slope and the Potential Energy Anomaly |
| title_full | A Dynamic Estuarine Classification of the Vertical Structure Based on the Water Column Density Slope and the Potential Energy Anomaly |
| title_fullStr | A Dynamic Estuarine Classification of the Vertical Structure Based on the Water Column Density Slope and the Potential Energy Anomaly |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Dynamic Estuarine Classification of the Vertical Structure Based on the Water Column Density Slope and the Potential Energy Anomaly |
| title_short | A Dynamic Estuarine Classification of the Vertical Structure Based on the Water Column Density Slope and the Potential Energy Anomaly |
| title_sort | dynamic estuarine classification of the vertical structure based on the water column density slope and the potential energy anomaly |
| topic | estuarine stratification and mixing density profile slope (<i>m</i>) potential energy anomaly (<i>ϕ</i>) artificial neural network (ANN) 3D hydrodynamic modelling climate change projections |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/18/3294 |
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