Influence of stratification and wind forcing on the dynamics of Lagrangian residual velocity in a periodically stratified estuary

oleh: F. Deng, F. Jia, R. Shi, S. Zhang, Q. Lian, X. Zong, Z. Chen

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: Copernicus Publications 2024-04-01

Deskripsi

<p>Wind and stratification play pivotal roles in shaping the structure of the Lagrangian residual velocity (LRV). However, the intricate dynamics by which wind and stratification modify the LRV remain poorly studied. This study derives numerical solutions of LRV components and eddy viscosity subcomponents to elucidate the dynamics within the periodically stratified Pearl River estuary. The vertical shear cross-estuary LRV (<span class="inline-formula"><i>u</i><sub>L</sub></span>) is principally governed by the interplay among the eddy viscosity component (<span class="inline-formula"><i>u</i><sub>Ltu</sub></span>), the barotropic component (<span class="inline-formula"><i>u</i><sub>Lba</sub></span>), and the baroclinic component (<span class="inline-formula"><i>u</i><sub>Lgr</sub></span>) under stratified conditions. During neap tides, southwesterly winds notably impact <span class="inline-formula"><i>u</i><sub>L</sub></span> by escalating <span class="inline-formula"><i>u</i><sub>Ltu</sub></span> by an order of magnitude within the upper layer. This transforms the eastward flow dominated by <span class="inline-formula"><i>u</i><sub>Ltu</sub></span> under wind influence into a westward flow dominated by <span class="inline-formula"><i>u</i><sub>Lba</sub></span> in upper shoal regions without wind forcing. The along-estuary LRV exhibits a gravitational circulation characterized by upper-layer outflow engendered by a barotropic component (<span class="inline-formula"><i>v</i><sub>Lba</sub></span>) and lower-layer inflow predominantly driven by a baroclinic component (<span class="inline-formula"><i>v</i><sub>Lgr</sub></span>). The presence of southwesterly winds suppresses along-estuary gravitational circulation by diminishing the magnitude of <span class="inline-formula"><i>v</i><sub>Lba</sub></span> and <span class="inline-formula"><i>v</i><sub>Lgr</sub></span>. The contributions of <span class="inline-formula"><i>v</i><sub>Lba</sub></span> and <span class="inline-formula"><i>v</i><sub>Lgr</sub></span> are approximately equal, while the ratio between <span class="inline-formula"><i>u</i><sub>Lba</sub></span> and <span class="inline-formula"><i>u</i><sub>Lgr</sub></span> (<span class="inline-formula"><i>u</i><sub>Ltu</sub></span>) fluctuates within the range of 1 to 2 in stratified waters. Under unstratified conditions, LRV exhibits a lateral shear structure due to differing dominant components compared to stratified conditions. In stratified scenarios, the eddy viscosity component of LRV is predominantly governed by the turbulent mean component, while it succumbs to the influence of the tidal straining component in unstratified waters.</p>