Residence time of water in the Mondego estuary (Portugal)

摘要: Abstract The residence time of water is widely used as an indicator how long a substance will remain in estuary, harbour, or lagoon, and it to enable comparisons among different bodies. In this work, the Mondego Estuary, Portugal, calculated by using two methodologies: first one based on field data freshwater fraction model, second Lagrangian transport model. model coupled two-dimensional hydrodynamic numerical that solves depth-averaged advection diffusion equations. Boundary conditions are provided Portuguese Coastal Operational Model, downscaled four nested domains with increasing resolution from large local scale. spatial variation characterized subdividing Estuary into boxes. observed average salinity for each box applied With boxes filled tracers path particles passing through them quantified. overall results methodologies similar, value varying over year between 1 12 days computed 2 9 Several scenarios were built applying investigate history renewal influence inflows geomorphologic factors time. indicate inflow main factor influencing analysis was carried out calculating exchange inside pointing river flow contributing