Responses of estuarine circulation and salinity to the loss of intertidal flats – A modeling study

Yang, Zhaoqing; Wang, Taiping

doi:10.1016/j.csr.2015.08.011

Title: Responses of estuarine circulation and salinity to the loss of intertidal flats – A modeling study

Journal Article · Tue Aug 25 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Continental Shelf Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csr.2015.08.011· OSTI ID:1229996

Yang, Zhaoqing ^[1]; Wang, Taiping ^[1]

Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Intertidal flats in estuaries are coastal wetlands that provide critical marine habitats to support wide ranges of marine species. Over the last century many estuarine systems have experienced significant loss of intertidal flats due to anthropogenic impacts. This paper presents a modeling study conducted to investigate the responses of estuarine hydrodynamics to the loss of intertidal flats caused by anthropogenic actions in Whidbey Basin of Puget Sound on the northwest coast of North America. Changes in salinity intrusion limits in the estuaries, salinity stratification, and circulation in intertidal flats and estuaries were evaluated by comparing model results under the existing baseline condition and the no-flat condition. Model results showed that loss of intertidal flats results in an increase in salinity intrusion, stronger mixing, and a phase shift in salinity and velocity fields in the bay front areas. Model results also indicated that loss of intertidal flats enhances two-layer circulation, especially the bottom water intrusion. Loss of intertidal flats increases the mean salinity but reduces the salinity range in the subtidal flats over a tidal cycle because of increased mixing. Salinity intrusion limits extend upstream in all three major rivers discharging into Whidbey Basin when no intertidal flats are present. Changes in salinity intrusion and estuarine circulation patterns due to loss of intertidal flats affect the nearshore habitat and water quality in estuaries and potentially increase risk of coastal hazards, such as storm surge and coastal flooding. Furthermore, model results suggested the importance of including intertidal flats and the wetting-and-drying process in hydrodynamic simulations when intertidal flats are present in the model domain.

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Research Organization:: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 1229996

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA-111458

Journal Information:: Continental Shelf Research, Vol. 111, Issue B; ISSN 0278-4343

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 6 works

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