Extension of the general unit hydrograph theory for the spread of salinity in estuaries

<p>From both practical and theoretical perspectives, it is essential to be able to express observed salinity distributions in terms of simplified theoretical models, which enable qualitative assessments to be made in many problems concerning water resource utilization (such as intake of fresh...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: H. Cai, B. Li, J. Gu, T. Zhao, E. Garel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2023-05-01
Series:Ocean Science
Online Access:https://os.copernicus.org/articles/19/603/2023/os-19-603-2023.pdf
_version_ 1797829322547920896
author H. Cai
H. Cai
H. Cai
B. Li
B. Li
B. Li
J. Gu
J. Gu
J. Gu
T. Zhao
E. Garel
author_facet H. Cai
H. Cai
H. Cai
B. Li
B. Li
B. Li
J. Gu
J. Gu
J. Gu
T. Zhao
E. Garel
author_sort H. Cai
collection DOAJ
description <p>From both practical and theoretical perspectives, it is essential to be able to express observed salinity distributions in terms of simplified theoretical models, which enable qualitative assessments to be made in many problems concerning water resource utilization (such as intake of fresh water) in estuaries. In this study, we propose a general and analytical salt intrusion model inspired by Guo's general unit hydrograph theory for flood hydrograph prediction in a watershed. To derive a simple, general and analytical model of salinity distribution, we first make four hypotheses on the longitudinal salinity gradient based on empirical observations; we then derive a general unit hydrograph for the salinity distribution along a partially mixed or well-mixed estuary. The newly developed model can be well calibrated using a minimum of three salinity measurements along the estuary axis and does converge towards zero when the along-estuary distance approaches infinity asymptotically. The theory has been successfully applied to reproduce the salt intrusion in 21 estuaries worldwide, which suggests that the proposed method can be a useful tool for quickly assessing the spread of salinity under a wide range of riverine and tidal conditions and for quantifying the potential impacts of human-induced and natural changes.</p>
first_indexed 2024-04-09T13:18:37Z
format Article
id doaj.art-2b5b7aaa0fbf4a5180f0f8689abc2673
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1812-0784
1812-0792
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-09T13:18:37Z
publishDate 2023-05-01
publisher Copernicus Publications
record_format Article
series Ocean Science
spelling doaj.art-2b5b7aaa0fbf4a5180f0f8689abc26732023-05-11T10:55:10ZengCopernicus PublicationsOcean Science1812-07841812-07922023-05-011960361410.5194/os-19-603-2023Extension of the general unit hydrograph theory for the spread of salinity in estuariesH. Cai0H. Cai1H. Cai2B. Li3B. Li4B. Li5J. Gu6J. Gu7J. Gu8T. Zhao9E. Garel10Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Research/State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Estuarine Hydraulic Technology, School of Ocean Engineering and Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Coasts, Islands and Reefs/Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, 519082, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, Zhuhai, 519082, China Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Research/State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Estuarine Hydraulic Technology, School of Ocean Engineering and Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Coasts, Islands and Reefs/Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, 519082, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, Zhuhai, 519082, China Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Research/State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Estuarine Hydraulic Technology, School of Ocean Engineering and Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Coasts, Islands and Reefs/Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, 519082, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, Zhuhai, 519082, China School of Civil Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, 519082, ChinaCentre for Marine and Environmental Research (CIMA), University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal<p>From both practical and theoretical perspectives, it is essential to be able to express observed salinity distributions in terms of simplified theoretical models, which enable qualitative assessments to be made in many problems concerning water resource utilization (such as intake of fresh water) in estuaries. In this study, we propose a general and analytical salt intrusion model inspired by Guo's general unit hydrograph theory for flood hydrograph prediction in a watershed. To derive a simple, general and analytical model of salinity distribution, we first make four hypotheses on the longitudinal salinity gradient based on empirical observations; we then derive a general unit hydrograph for the salinity distribution along a partially mixed or well-mixed estuary. The newly developed model can be well calibrated using a minimum of three salinity measurements along the estuary axis and does converge towards zero when the along-estuary distance approaches infinity asymptotically. The theory has been successfully applied to reproduce the salt intrusion in 21 estuaries worldwide, which suggests that the proposed method can be a useful tool for quickly assessing the spread of salinity under a wide range of riverine and tidal conditions and for quantifying the potential impacts of human-induced and natural changes.</p>https://os.copernicus.org/articles/19/603/2023/os-19-603-2023.pdf
spellingShingle H. Cai
H. Cai
H. Cai
B. Li
B. Li
B. Li
J. Gu
J. Gu
J. Gu
T. Zhao
E. Garel
Extension of the general unit hydrograph theory for the spread of salinity in estuaries
Ocean Science
title Extension of the general unit hydrograph theory for the spread of salinity in estuaries
title_full Extension of the general unit hydrograph theory for the spread of salinity in estuaries
title_fullStr Extension of the general unit hydrograph theory for the spread of salinity in estuaries
title_full_unstemmed Extension of the general unit hydrograph theory for the spread of salinity in estuaries
title_short Extension of the general unit hydrograph theory for the spread of salinity in estuaries
title_sort extension of the general unit hydrograph theory for the spread of salinity in estuaries
url https://os.copernicus.org/articles/19/603/2023/os-19-603-2023.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT hcai extensionofthegeneralunithydrographtheoryforthespreadofsalinityinestuaries
AT hcai extensionofthegeneralunithydrographtheoryforthespreadofsalinityinestuaries
AT hcai extensionofthegeneralunithydrographtheoryforthespreadofsalinityinestuaries
AT bli extensionofthegeneralunithydrographtheoryforthespreadofsalinityinestuaries
AT bli extensionofthegeneralunithydrographtheoryforthespreadofsalinityinestuaries
AT bli extensionofthegeneralunithydrographtheoryforthespreadofsalinityinestuaries
AT jgu extensionofthegeneralunithydrographtheoryforthespreadofsalinityinestuaries
AT jgu extensionofthegeneralunithydrographtheoryforthespreadofsalinityinestuaries
AT jgu extensionofthegeneralunithydrographtheoryforthespreadofsalinityinestuaries
AT tzhao extensionofthegeneralunithydrographtheoryforthespreadofsalinityinestuaries
AT egarel extensionofthegeneralunithydrographtheoryforthespreadofsalinityinestuaries