Skip to main content

Lateral circulation in well-mixed and stratified estuarine flows with curvature

Publication ,  Journal Article
Nidzieko, NJ; Hench, JL; Monismith, SG
Published in: Journal of Physical Oceanography
July 14, 2009

A field experiment was conducted to examine stratified and unstratified curvature-generated lateral circulation and momentum balances in an estuarine tidal channel. Conductivity, temperature, depth, and current profiler data were collected vertically and laterally across the channel at a sharp bend over a fortnightly period to measure the terms of the lateral momentum budget. Well-mixed conditions allow the development of classic two-layer helical flow around a bend. Stratification strengthens curvature-induced lateral circulation, but the development of a lateral baroclinic pressure gradient opposes the resultant motions. The spatial and temporal response of this baroclinic pressure gradient is different than centrifugal acceleration, producing a three-layer profile. As the baroclinic term becomes stronger (or as centrifugal acceleration disappears as the flow exits the bend), two-layer flow with the opposite direction from curvature occurs. In both stratified and well-mixed conditions, downstream adjustment of lateral circulation (nonlinear advective acceleration) is of leading order in the lateral momentum budget; the depth-averaged term adjusts the streamline direction, while vertical deviations from the depth average account for changes in lateral circulation. The asymmetry of forcing mechanisms on flood and ebb, because of variations in stratification and strength of tidal flow, can strongly affect net lateral transport and generation of residual currents in regions of curvature. © 2009 American Meteorological Society.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Journal of Physical Oceanography

DOI

ISSN

0022-3670

Publication Date

July 14, 2009

Volume

39

Issue

4

Start / End Page

831 / 851

Related Subject Headings

  • Oceanography
  • 4015 Maritime engineering
  • 3708 Oceanography
  • 0911 Maritime Engineering
  • 0405 Oceanography
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Nidzieko, N. J., Hench, J. L., & Monismith, S. G. (2009). Lateral circulation in well-mixed and stratified estuarine flows with curvature. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 39(4), 831–851. https://doi.org/10.1175/2008JPO4017.1
Nidzieko, N. J., J. L. Hench, and S. G. Monismith. “Lateral circulation in well-mixed and stratified estuarine flows with curvature.” Journal of Physical Oceanography 39, no. 4 (July 14, 2009): 831–51. https://doi.org/10.1175/2008JPO4017.1.
Nidzieko NJ, Hench JL, Monismith SG. Lateral circulation in well-mixed and stratified estuarine flows with curvature. Journal of Physical Oceanography. 2009 Jul 14;39(4):831–51.
Nidzieko, N. J., et al. “Lateral circulation in well-mixed and stratified estuarine flows with curvature.” Journal of Physical Oceanography, vol. 39, no. 4, July 2009, pp. 831–51. Scopus, doi:10.1175/2008JPO4017.1.
Nidzieko NJ, Hench JL, Monismith SG. Lateral circulation in well-mixed and stratified estuarine flows with curvature. Journal of Physical Oceanography. 2009 Jul 14;39(4):831–851.

Published In

Journal of Physical Oceanography

DOI

ISSN

0022-3670

Publication Date

July 14, 2009

Volume

39

Issue

4

Start / End Page

831 / 851

Related Subject Headings

  • Oceanography
  • 4015 Maritime engineering
  • 3708 Oceanography
  • 0911 Maritime Engineering
  • 0405 Oceanography