CAREER: The Influence of Distributed River Inputs and Coastal Embayments on Dynamics in Large Estuaries

该项目旨在改变对分布式河流和沿海海湾对长岛海峡（LIS）等大型河口动态影响的理解。研究假设为：1）跨河口密度梯度的风力和潮汐应变在数量上与沿河口密度梯度的应变一样大; 2）分布式河流输入产生应变增加的集中区域和应变条件相反的区域; 3）在风暴响应期间，来自沿海流域的较小河流输入共同对环流和密度结构产生一级影响; 4）河流沃茨遵循规则的运输路径，在风事件期间发生变化; 5）沿海海湾从净混合区过渡到分层增加，因为潮汐流沿着河口减少。土地影响系统的水动力模拟将与沿海流域的地表径流模型相结合。应变条件和较小的河流流入的综合影响将进行研究，以确定运输途径的淡水从分布式河流的输入和量化河口环流和密度structure.Intellectual优点沿海海湾的影响：拟议的建模研究将改变在大河口的动态的理解。这项研究将促进了解如何从多个来源的淡水相结合，以确定河口密度场;跟踪这些单独的输入也通知河流营养物质，污染物和碳输入河口的研究。这项研究将扩展到大型河口的河口密度应变的研究，其中三维方法是必要的，应变条件的空间变化是显着的。来自沿海流域的分布式较小河流的输入将使用耦合地表径流模型和符合潜在能量考虑的输入方法准确表示。这项研究将量化这些较小的分布式河流和沿海海湾的大规模河口动力学的影响。新的耦合建模方法和分析技术将提高模拟当前和未来河口条件的能力。综合多方面的教育和推广工作，每年将告知数百名K-12学生，本科生，研究生和公众对河口动力学，风暴响应和研究成果。主要信息是，附近的河流和海湾有深远的影响，应培养兴趣，并鼓励沿海流域和河口的管理。更广泛的影响：本项目将培养博士后研究员和本科生的科学研究和教育的职业生涯。本科生和研究生将接受新的“淡水运输和混合”课程的教育。暑期本科实习生将获得重要的研究经验。数百名学生通过K-12教育和推广工作，通过项目海洋学实地教育计划和低收入和少数民族学生的年度"遇见你的河口日"，将获得对流域和河口相互联系的理解，并对研究和保护沿海沃茨产生新的兴趣。新的大学课程和新的项目海洋学学习模块的开发将继续超出项目跨度;添加到项目？的教育遗产。研究结果将为大型河口的研究提供信息，并对LIS和其他河口面临的环境问题进行补充研究。该项目将为河口系统的营养物、污染物和碳的多种河流输入的生态地球化学研究提供信息。结合地表径流和水动力模型的耦合技术将与沿海建模社区共享。研究结果将发表在科学期刊上，并在会议上发表。该计划将改善康涅狄格大学的科学基础设施，并将改善大学，海洋学项目，康涅狄格海洋赠款和其他组织之间的伙伴关系。

The project is designed to transform the understanding of the effects of distributed rivers and coastal embayments on dynamics in large estuaries like the Long Island Sound (LIS). The hypotheses to be tested are: 1) Wind-driven and tidal straining of across-estuary density gradients is quantitatively as large as straining of along-estuary gradients; 2) Distributed river inputs create focused areas of increased straining and areas of reversed straining conditions; 3) During storm response, smaller river inputs from coastal watersheds collectively have a first-order influence on circulation and density structure; 4) River waters follow regular transport pathways that shift during wind events; 5) Coastal embayments transition from areas of net mixing to increased stratification as tidal currents decrease along the estuary. The hydrodynamic simulations for the LIS will be coupled to a surface-runoff model for coastal watersheds. Straining conditions and the combined influence of the smaller river inflows will be studied to determine the transport pathways for fresh water from the distributed river inputs and quantify the effects of coastal embayments on estuarine circulation and density structure.Intellectual Merit: The proposed modeling research will transform the understanding of dynamics in large estuaries. The study will advance the understanding of how fresh water from multiple sources combines to determine estuary density fields; tracking these separate inputs also informs the study of riverine nutrient, contaminant, and carbon inputs to estuaries. The research will extend the study of estuarine density straining to large estuaries where a 3D approach is necessary and spatial variations in straining conditions are pronounced. Inputs from distributed smaller rivers from coastal watersheds will be accurately represented using a coupled surface-runoff model and an input method consistent with potential energy considerations. This study will quantify the effects of these smaller distributed rivers and coastal embayments on large-scale estuarine dynamics. The new coupled modeling approach and analysis techniques will increase the ability to model present and future estuarine conditions. The integrated multi-faceted education and outreach effort each year will inform several hundred K-12 students, undergraduates, graduate students, and the general public on estuarine dynamics, storm response, and research results. The main message that nearby rivers and embayments have far-reaching effects should foster interest in and encourage stewardship of the coastal watersheds and estuaries.Broader Impacts: This project will train a post-doctoral researcher and undergraduate student for careers in scientific research and education. Undergraduate and graduate students will be educated by the new 'Freshwater Transport and Mixing' course. Summer undergraduate interns will gain vital research experience. Several hundred students reached by the K-12 education and outreach efforts, through the Project Oceanology field education program and the annual 'Meet Your Estuary Day' for lower-income and minority students, will gain an understanding of the interconnectedness of watersheds and estuaries and a new interest in studying and protecting coastal waters. The new college course and the new Project Oceanology learning module developed will continue beyond the project span; adding to the project?s educational legacy. Research findings will inform research for large estuaries and compliment research on environmental issues facing LIS and other estuaries. This project will inform biogeochemical research on multiple riverine inputs of nutrients, pollutants, and carbon to estuarine systems. The coupling techniques combining the surface-runoff and hydrodynamic models will be shared with the coastal modeling community. Results will be published in scientific journals and presented at conferences. The program will improve the scientific infrastructure at the University of Connecticut and will improve partnerships between the university, Project Oceanology, Connecticut Sea Grant and other organizations.