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A periodic freshwater patch detachment process from the Block Island Sound estuarine plume: BIS PERIODIC FRESHWATER PATCH DETACHMENT

Journal Article · · Journal of Geophysical Research. Oceans
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/2015jc011546· OSTI ID:1532972
 [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Univ. of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI (United States); Univ. of Maine, Oronom, ME (United States); DOE/OSTI
  2. Univ. of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI (United States)
  3. Gingdao National Lab. for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao (China)
+ Show Author Affiliations
Previous observations suggest periodic freshwater patches separating from the Block Island Sound (BIS) estuarine plume. In this study, the dynamics of the separation process is investigated through a series of numerical experiments using the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS). In addition, we explore the seasonal variability of the freshwater patches and their response to river discharge and ambient current. The model results indicate that episodic freshwater patches are triggered by small changes in tidal currents over the spring-neap tidal cycle. The spring-neap variation in tidal currents causes significant, monthly fluctuations in turbulent mixing and vertical stratification in BIS, modulating the freshwater discharge thereby generating episodic freshwater patches that move both downstream along the southern shore of Long Island and toward Rhode Island Sound (RIS). The realistically configured model shows that the freshwater patches experience strong seasonal variability. They are largest in spring when the river discharge peaks, and smallest in summer due to the weak river discharge and a robust upstream ambient current from RIS. According to the analysis of the freshwater transport out of BIS, we conclude that such detachment occurs at tidal mixing fronts.
Research Organization:
Univ. of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0005432
OSTI ID:
1532972
Journal Information:
Journal of Geophysical Research. Oceans, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research. Oceans Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 122; ISSN 2169-9275
Publisher:
American Geophysical UnionCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Summertime Connecticut River Water Pathways and Wind Impacts journal March 2019

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
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