Longitudinal and lateral circulation and tidal impacts in salt-plug estuaries

This study presents a comparison of forcings between density gradient and tides in idealized funnel-shaped salt-plug estuaries. Three-dimensional numerical model results also examine longitudinal and lateral circulations. In salt-plug estuaries, a positive longitudinal estuarine circulation is observed landward of a salinity maximum zone or salt plug. Seaward of the salt plug, the estuary shows an inverse circulation cell. The longitudinal flows show a fortnightly variability inside the salt plug. Also, the salt plug is saltier in spring tides than in neap tidal cycles mainly owing to higher landward salt transport by tidal advection during the spring tides. The lateral circulation and divergence dv/dy have the influence of Coriolis acceleration. In the absence of Earth's rotation, the tidally averaged lateral circulations have nearly the same directions within the positive and inverse cells. Directions of lateral flow reverse in the salt-plug area. Inside this area, the lateral circulation also shows clear neap-spring variability, including downwelling cells during spring tides and upwelling in neap tides. The salinity maximum zone exhibits a vertically homogeneous condition particularly in meso-tidal salt-plug estuaries. Finally, this study introduces the threshold of log(tidal Froude number)=3 (tidal forcing 3 orders of magnitude >= density gradients) for salt-plug estuaries as the condition under which the tidal forcing can overcome the density gradient, and consequently salinity inside the salt plug zone is reinforced by tides with a landward movement. This robust salinity maximum zone is also identified by a high Ekman number (log(Ekman number)>0.25).

Automated summary

This study compares the influences of density gradient and tides in funnel-shaped salt-plug estuaries, and examines the longitudinal and lateral circulations using a three-dimensional numerical model. The results show positive longitudinal estuarine circulation landward of the salt plug and inverse circulation seaward of the salt plug. The salt plug is saltier during spring tides due to higher landward salt transport. The lateral circulation shows neap-spring variability and reverses direction in the salt-plug area. A threshold condition for salt-plug estuaries is introduced, where tidal forcing can overcome density gradient and reinforce salinity inside the salt plug zone.