Responses of estuarine circulation and salinity to the loss of intertidal flats – A modeling study

摘要: Abstract Intertidal flats in estuaries are coastal wetlands that provide critical marine habitats to support wide ranges of species. Over the last century many estuarine systems have experienced significant loss intertidal due anthropogenic impacts. This paper presents a modeling study conducted investigate responses hydrodynamics Whidbey Basin Puget Sound on northwest coast North America. Changes salinity intrusion limits estuaries, stratification, and circulation were evaluated by comparing model results under existing baseline condition no-flat condition. Model showed an increase intrusion, stronger mixing, phase shift velocity fields bay front areas. also indicated enhances two-layer circulation, especially bottom water intrusion. Loss increases mean but reduces range subtidal over tidal cycle because increased mixing. Salinity extend upstream all three major rivers discharging into when no present. patterns affect nearshore habitat quality potentially risk hazards, such as storm surge flooding. Lastly, suggested importance including wetting-and-drying process hydrodynamic simulations present domain.