A box model of Puget Sound

A classical two-layer box model has been used to calculate volume transports and vertical exchange coefficients for the Main Basin of Puget Sound. High river flow (January–February) and low flow (August–September) calculations, using salinity and runoff observations, show that basically two estuarine types exist within the basin under both flow conditions. Admiralty Inlet, the north entrance to the Main Basin, is similar to a partially mixed estuary with vigorous tidal mixing, so that horizontal and vertical salinity gradients are similar in winter and late summer. Within the deep main basin, two layer transports are proportional to salinity stratification and the vertical exchanges are low. Calculated summer transports are about a factor of two smaller than winter transports for the Main Basin. Model transports agree quite well with daily net transports estimated from current meters. Flushing times calculated by the model also agree with volume replacement times calculated using current meter data and by methods using oxygen deficits in the lower layer.