Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Journal of Physical Oceanography

Publisher

American Meteorological Society

Rights and Access Note

This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. In addition, no permission is required from the rights-holder(s) for educational uses. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Publication Date

5-2016

Publisher location

Boston, MA, USA

First Page

1421

Last Page

1436

Issue Number

5

Volume Number

46

Abstract/ Summary

Small-mouth Kelvin number plumes, or plumes with a source width smaller than the deformation radius, are characterized by near-field plume regions of rapid lateral expansion and strong vertical mixing. Net plume mixing, or the dilution of a plume by ocean water between the estuary mouth and the far-field plume, is examined using idealized numerical experiments with the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS). The density anomaly of plume water entering the far field is determined from isohaline analysis of the modeled salinity field. The experiments indicate that when estuarine discharge increases, net plume mixing decreases in a rotating environment but increases in a nonrotating environment. Scaling analysis supports that this opposite trend in behavior is related to rotation turning the plume, limiting the lateral expansion and suppressing shear mixing. The results of this study explain different trends in net plume mixing reported in previous studies and compare favorably to observations of the Fraser River plume.

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Cole, K. L., & Hetland, R. D. (2016). The Effects of Rotation and River Discharge on Net Mixing in Small-Mouth Kelvin Number Plumes. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 46(5), 1421–1436. doi:10.1175/jpo-d-13-0271.1

Publisher Statement

© 2016 American Meteorological Society

DOI

10.1175/jpo-d-13-0271.1

Version

publisher's version of the published document

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In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted.