#Capas tropico 1 series#
Simpson analyzed a series of physical process in a region of freshwater influence, and topographical effects stood out over the extension and the shape of the plume. Near-shore plume characteristics are functions of a river’s different properties as discharge and mouth width, the Coriolis force, shelf slope, wind field, and density differences between water masses.
These dispersion patterns are directly related to plume dispersion patterns. Plume fronts are also important to transport phytoplankton, zooplankton, larvae and nutrients, and this has an important impact on shelf environment. Plumes may become zones of very high biological production. Rivers constitute the main source of nutrient-pollutant interchange between continents and oceans, and freshwater plumes have important effects on marine ecosystems. Studying these zones has several important consequences.
#Capas tropico 1 free#
Stratification is a fundamental process in the control of the vertical structure of the plumes, and because of their proximity to the free surface, movement is controlled by the wind. The dynamics of these fronts are also modified by surface density gradients, friction between layers, and entrainment processes. The shape and extension of these fronts, typically covering only a few meters below the free surface, are variable and depend on river discharges, tidal regimes, the Coriolis effect, and the wind. For this region, density difference gives rise to strong stratification with a turbid plume front. When a shelf system has a significant freshwater discharge input, a region of freshwater influence is formed. Oceanic circulation at shelf zones influenced by freshwater discharges is radically different from circulation in other oceanic zones because river and shelf currents interact and generate a complex circulation pattern with strong density gradients and localized intensive mixing. Shelf zone hydrodynamics result from the interaction of several factors such as bathymetry, wind field, freshwater discharges, tides, and the effects of the Earth´s rotation and of oceanic and climatic conditions that affect all the physical chemical biological processes which occur in water. Palabras clave: Hidrodinámica, plumas estuarinas, estuarios, golfo de Urabá, modelo ELCOM. Se identificaron dos modos de circulación en el golfo de Uraba bajo diferentes condiciones de viento. La marea modifica la posición de la pluma a lo largo del día, induciendo una migración horizontal en el frente salino. La descarga del río Atrato se dispersa sobre una porción considerable del golfo de Uraba pero ocupa solamente una capa superficial de alrededor de 2 m. Datos de campo y resultados de un modelo numérico muestran que existe una alta variabilidad espacial y temporal en la pluma de acuerdo a la magnitud de la descarga del río, el ciclo de marea y el esfuerzo cortante inducido por el viento. Se realizaron seis campañas de medición entre los años 2004 y 2007 para identificar las principales características de esta pluma y para la calibración y validación del modelo numérico. Keywords: Hydrodynamics, freshwater river plume, tropical estuaries, Gulf of Uraba, ELCOM model.Įste estudio se enfoca en la evaluación de la importancia de los diferentes forzamientos sobre la pluma del río Atrato y su propagación en un estuario localizado en el golfo de Uraba en el Caribe Colombiano. Two principal modes of circulation in the gulf were identified under different wind conditions. The tide modifies the position of the plume by inducing a horizontal migration of the salinity front during the day. Atrato River discharge spreads over a considerable portion of the gulf, but only occupies the top 2 m of the surface layer. Field data and numerical models revealed high spatial and temporal plume variability according to the magnitudes of river discharges, tidal cycles, and wind stress. Six campaigns of intensive field data collection were carried out from 2004 to 2007 to identify the main features of the plume and to calibrate and validate a numerical model. This study focuses on the relative importance of the forcing agents of Atrato River plume as it propagates in a tropical estuary located in the Gulf of Uraba in the Colombian Caribbean Sea. Revised document received: 06 October 2016