Turbulent measurements in a small subtropical estuary with semi-diurnal tides

Abstract

Since predictions of scalar dispersion in small estuaries can rarely be predicted accurately, new field measurements were conducted continuously at relatively high frequency for up to 50 hours (per investigation) in a small subtropical estuary with semi-diurnal tides. The bulk flow parameters varied in time with periods comparable to tidal cycles and other large-scale processes. The turbulence properties depended upon the instantaneous local flow properties. They were little affected by the flow history, but their structure and temporal variability were influenced by a variety of parameters including the tidal conditions and bathymetry. A striking feature of the data sets was the large fluctuations in all turbulence characteristics during the tidal cycle, and basic differences between neap and spring tide turbulence