Seasonal renewal time variability in the Curonian Lagoon caused by atmospheric and hydrographical forcing
The aim of this study was to investigate the variability of the water exchanges in the Curonian Lagoon based on the hydraulic regime and the atmospheric forcings. A finite element hydrodynamic model has been applied to the Curonian Lagoon to simulate the circulation patterns for 10 years. With the h...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2016-03-01
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| Series: | Ocean Science |
| Online Access: | http://www.ocean-sci.net/12/391/2016/os-12-391-2016.pdf |
| Summary: | The aim of this study was to investigate the variability of the water
exchanges in the Curonian Lagoon based on the hydraulic regime and the
atmospheric forcings. A finite element hydrodynamic model has been applied
to the Curonian Lagoon to simulate the circulation patterns for 10 years.
With the help of a transport–diffusion model, the salinity distribution and
the renewal times of the Curonian Lagoon have been investigated when forced
by river runoff, wind, and Baltic Sea level fluctuations. The hydrodynamic
model has been validated using in situ salinity measurements.
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Model results show that the variability depends mainly on seasonal changes
in hydrographic forcing and on the dominant wind regimes that prevail over
the Curonian Lagoon. Exchanges between the southern and the northern part of
the lagoon mostly depend on the wind forcing and are much less influenced by
the river discharge.
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However, when looking at the water renewal time, the most important factor
is the river discharge into the lagoon. Other physical forcings only
marginally determine the renewal time, and not even ice cover is able to
influence it. Even if ice cover strongly inhibits the exchanges between the
southern and northern lagoon, it is basically not able to change the
absolute value of the renewal times. |
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| ISSN: | 1812-0784 1812-0792 |