Flows Around Curves in Estuaries: Dynamics and Impacts

大多数河口都有天然的弯曲，水流必须绕过。各种研究已经证明了河口和河流弯道周围均匀和分层沃茨流所特有的环流和分层变化。然而，没有人试图进行系统的研究，以了解一系列相关的河口参数的动力学和影响的依赖。该项目将是一个全面的研究动力学和调节？该项目将通过社交媒体和科学写作吸引年轻观众，以传达物理海洋科学的价值。包括一名研究生研究助理和一名定量研究本科生研究员的培训。计划为本科生和研究生提供若干教育和培训机会。该项目还将加强与对亚基纳湾资源管理和恢复感兴趣的科学家和利益相关者的合作和伙伴关系。横向（跨渠道）流动由一系列机制驱动（例如，差分平流，科里奥利强迫，不对称混合，混合超过倾斜的底部）已被证明与纵向河口流强烈相互作用，并对动量收支有根本性的影响，示踪剂在河口的分散和停留时间。这项研究将构成第一个系统的河口曲线周围的流动动力学研究，并将量化这些流量的意义（相对于由其他机制驱动的二次流）及其对河口结构和功能的影响。该方法将包括理想化和现实的数值模拟和分析先前收集的河口数据，这些河口在河道尺寸、曲线结构和河口状态分类方面各不相同。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Most estuaries have natural bends that flows must navigate around. Various studies have documented the circulation and stratification variability unique to flows of homogenous and stratified waters around bends in estuaries and rivers. However, none have attempted a systematic study in order to understand the dependence of the dynamics and impacts on a range of relevant estuarine parameters. This project will be a comprehensive study of the dynamics and regulation of flows (longitudinal and lateral) around channel bends in estuaries, the overall impact of these flows on salt transport, horizontal dispersion, and estuarine structure, and how this impact is dependent on estuarine regime. The project will engage a young audience through social media and science writing to convey the value of the physical ocean sciences. The training of a graduate research assistant and an undergraduate researcher in quantitative research is included. Several education and training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students are planned. The project will additionally enhance collaborations and partnerships with scientists and stakeholders with interests in resource management and restoration of Yaquina Bay.Lateral (cross-channel) flows driven by a range of mechanisms (for example, differential advection, Coriolis forcing, asymmetric mixing, mixing over sloping bottoms) have been shown to interact strongly with the longitudinal estuarine currents, and have a fundamental impact on momentum budgets, dispersion of tracers and residence time in estuaries. This research would constitute the first systematic study of the dynamics of flows around curves in estuaries and will quantify the significance of these flows (relative to secondary flows driven by other mechanisms) and their impact on estuarine structure and function. The approach will include both idealized and realistic numerical simulations and analysis of previously collected data in estuaries that vary in channel size, curve structure and estuary regime classification.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.