Modeling of the Cape Fear River Estuary plume |
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Authors: | Meng Xia Lian Xie Leonard J Pietrafesa |
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Institution: | 1.Department of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences,North Carolina State University,Raleigh;2.College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences,North Carolina State University,Raleigh |
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Abstract: | The Environmental Fluid Dynamic Code, an estuarine and coastal ocean circulation model, is used to simulate the distribution
of the salinity plume in the vicinity of the mouth of the Cape Fear River Estuary, North Carolina. The individual and coupled
effects of the astronomical tides, river discharge, and atmospheric winds on the spatial and temporal distributions of coastal
water levels and the salinity plume were investigated. These modeled effects were compared with water level observations made
by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and salinity surveys conducted by the Coastal Ocean Research and Monitoring
Program. Model results and observations of salinity distributions and coastal water level showed good agreement. The simulations
indicate that strong winds tend to reduce the surface plume size and distort the bulge shape near the estuary mouth due to
enhanced wind-induced surface mixing. Under normal discharge conditions, tides, and light winds, the southward outwelling
plume veers west. Relatively moderate winds can mechanically reverse the flow direction of the plume. Under conditions of
weak to moderate winds the water column does not mix vertically to the bottom, while in strong wind cases the plume becomes
vertically well mixed. Under conditions of high river discharge the plume increases in size and reaches the bottom. Vertical
mixing induced by strong spring tides can also enable the plume to reach the bottom. |
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