Temporal and Spatial Variability Scales of Salinity at a Large Microtidal Estuary
The Río de la Plata is a large fluvial–estuarine–sea system discharging into the southwestern Atlantic Ocean, which has relevant features such as high fluvial discharge, microtidal astronomical tidal scales, a relevant meteorological tide, and a strong atmospheric forcing effect, due to its large wi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/9/8/860 |
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| author | Michelle Jackson Gianfranco Sienra Pablo Santoro Mónica Fossati |
| author_facet | Michelle Jackson Gianfranco Sienra Pablo Santoro Mónica Fossati |
| author_sort | Michelle Jackson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Río de la Plata is a large fluvial–estuarine–sea system discharging into the southwestern Atlantic Ocean, which has relevant features such as high fluvial discharge, microtidal astronomical tidal scales, a relevant meteorological tide, and a strong atmospheric forcing effect, due to its large width. The objective of this study is to advance the understanding of the estuarine hydrodynamics and salt transport, as well as discussing the main characteristics of the spatiotemporal variability of the salinity field. To achieve this, the results of a 3D model of the Río de la Plata and its maritime front were used, simulating an extensive period of 10 years. In this study, the model was validated using vertical salinity profiles collected at different locations in the estuary. The temporal variability of the salinity stratification was characterised at different temporal scales: annual, monthly, and storm. At the same time, the influences of fluvial flow and winds were determined. The correlation analysis between fluvial flow and the salinity field showed that high annual fluvial flows generate an extension of the freshwater area, with larger longitudinal salinity gradients and a shift of the salinity front towards the ocean. The tendency at the monthly scale is not as clear as that observed at the annual scale. The results show that the effect of a storm coming from the northwest is quite similar to that of storms coming from the southwest, especially in the central and southern zones of the Río de la Plata, where mixing increases and stratification decreases, according to the intensity of the storm. The effect of south–southeasterly storms increases the mixing process and reduces stratification; the opposite effect was identified with respect to northeasterly storms, under the influence of which the stratified area increases. Synthesising the obtained results, a global zonification of the vertical salinity stratification for the Río de la Plata is proposed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:41:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7dd97c0961584d9599095e8b9d056d9c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1312 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:41:05Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-7dd97c0961584d9599095e8b9d056d9c2023-11-22T08:15:24ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122021-08-019886010.3390/jmse9080860Temporal and Spatial Variability Scales of Salinity at a Large Microtidal EstuaryMichelle Jackson0Gianfranco Sienra1Pablo Santoro2Mónica Fossati3Instituto de Mecánica de los Fluidos e Ingeniería Ambiental, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de la República, Julio Herrera y Reissig, 565, Montevideo CP 11300, UruguayInstituto de Mecánica de los Fluidos e Ingeniería Ambiental, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de la República, Julio Herrera y Reissig, 565, Montevideo CP 11300, UruguayInstituto de Mecánica de los Fluidos e Ingeniería Ambiental, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de la República, Julio Herrera y Reissig, 565, Montevideo CP 11300, UruguayInstituto de Mecánica de los Fluidos e Ingeniería Ambiental, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de la República, Julio Herrera y Reissig, 565, Montevideo CP 11300, UruguayThe Río de la Plata is a large fluvial–estuarine–sea system discharging into the southwestern Atlantic Ocean, which has relevant features such as high fluvial discharge, microtidal astronomical tidal scales, a relevant meteorological tide, and a strong atmospheric forcing effect, due to its large width. The objective of this study is to advance the understanding of the estuarine hydrodynamics and salt transport, as well as discussing the main characteristics of the spatiotemporal variability of the salinity field. To achieve this, the results of a 3D model of the Río de la Plata and its maritime front were used, simulating an extensive period of 10 years. In this study, the model was validated using vertical salinity profiles collected at different locations in the estuary. The temporal variability of the salinity stratification was characterised at different temporal scales: annual, monthly, and storm. At the same time, the influences of fluvial flow and winds were determined. The correlation analysis between fluvial flow and the salinity field showed that high annual fluvial flows generate an extension of the freshwater area, with larger longitudinal salinity gradients and a shift of the salinity front towards the ocean. The tendency at the monthly scale is not as clear as that observed at the annual scale. The results show that the effect of a storm coming from the northwest is quite similar to that of storms coming from the southwest, especially in the central and southern zones of the Río de la Plata, where mixing increases and stratification decreases, according to the intensity of the storm. The effect of south–southeasterly storms increases the mixing process and reduces stratification; the opposite effect was identified with respect to northeasterly storms, under the influence of which the stratified area increases. Synthesising the obtained results, a global zonification of the vertical salinity stratification for the Río de la Plata is proposed.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/9/8/860salinitytemporal variabilitynumerical modellingRío de la Plata estuary |
| spellingShingle | Michelle Jackson Gianfranco Sienra Pablo Santoro Mónica Fossati Temporal and Spatial Variability Scales of Salinity at a Large Microtidal Estuary Journal of Marine Science and Engineering salinity temporal variability numerical modelling Río de la Plata estuary |
| title | Temporal and Spatial Variability Scales of Salinity at a Large Microtidal Estuary |
| title_full | Temporal and Spatial Variability Scales of Salinity at a Large Microtidal Estuary |
| title_fullStr | Temporal and Spatial Variability Scales of Salinity at a Large Microtidal Estuary |
| title_full_unstemmed | Temporal and Spatial Variability Scales of Salinity at a Large Microtidal Estuary |
| title_short | Temporal and Spatial Variability Scales of Salinity at a Large Microtidal Estuary |
| title_sort | temporal and spatial variability scales of salinity at a large microtidal estuary |
| topic | salinity temporal variability numerical modelling Río de la Plata estuary |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/9/8/860 |
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