A numerical model of the James River estuary, Virginia, U.S.A.

摘要: A numerical model of a partially mixed estuary is postulated, in which temporal changes density current and vertical salinity stratification at given point depend only on the longstream gradient cross-sectional average salinity, S , tidal speed, ‖ U ‖, averaged over period. The salt conservation requirement leads to partial differential equation : under steady state conditions this becomes an ordinary equation, that can easily be solved analytically for bed any shape. qualitative features solution are similar those real laboratory partially-mixed estuaries. time-dependent soved numerically, James River, U.S.A., 2-month period following Hurricane Agnes (June 1972). Agreement with observation good, considering extreme simplicity model. In particular, it found both model, (i) penetration up River appears respond strongly rapidly mouth, overshadowing responses changing river flow spring neap cycle; (ii) depends primarily spring-neap cycle, very little flow.