The Río de la plata estuary response to wind variability in synoptic timescale: Salinity fields and salt wedge structure

Meccia, V.L.; Simionato, C.G., and Guerrero, R.A., 2013. The Río de la Plata estuary response to wind variability in synoptic timescale: salinity fields and salt wedge structure. The Río de la Plata estuary response to wind variability in a synoptic timescale is studied with the Estuarine, Coastal a...

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Autores principales: Meccia, V.L., Simionato, C.G., Guerrero, R.A.
Formato: JOUR
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Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_07490208_v29_n1_p61_Meccia
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spelling todo:paper_07490208_v29_n1_p61_Meccia2023-10-03T15:39:10Z The Río de la plata estuary response to wind variability in synoptic timescale: Salinity fields and salt wedge structure Meccia, V.L. Simionato, C.G. Guerrero, R.A. 37°?34° S 60°?54° W Modeling stratification vertical structure wind forcing air-sea interaction estuarine environment estuarine pollution geoaccumulation numerical model pollutant runoff salinity surface water temperature effect tidal cycle timescale wind forcing wind velocity Montevideo [Uruguay] Rio de la Plata Uruguay Meccia, V.L.; Simionato, C.G., and Guerrero, R.A., 2013. The Río de la Plata estuary response to wind variability in synoptic timescale: salinity fields and salt wedge structure. The Río de la Plata estuary response to wind variability in a synoptic timescale is studied with the Estuarine, Coastal and Ocean Model forced by tides, runoff, and idealized winds. Ancillary conductivity, temperature, and depth data from synoptic oceanographic cruises are used to validate the conclusions derived from the simulations. Results show that the estuary's response to wind variability can be explained in terms of four characteristic patterns associated with winds that blow with a dominant component either along or across the estuary axis. Cross-estuary winds from the SW produce a northward displacement of the surface salinity front toward the Uruguayan coast and cause downwelling between Montevideo and Punta del Este. Reciprocally, under NE winds, the surface salinity front migrates to the SW and upwelling between Montevideo and Punta del Este occurs. Along-estuary winds with a downstream component produce a net outflow of continental surface waters and inflow of bottom shelf waters, resulting in an intensification of the stratification. In opposition, winds with an upstream component produce a weakening of the vertical structure. Stratification can be destroyed by strong or persistent SE winds, which are not frequent in the region, and it recovers in a relatively short period (10-15 days) after wind relaxation. Consequently, the salt wedge structure is observed in the Río de la Plata during most of the year. This implies that significant vertical mixing events producing exchanges of water and properties between the surface and the bottom waters occur only a few times a year. As a consequence, the Río de la Plata shows strong retentive features, favoring biota by retaining eggs and larvae-and favoring pollutant accumulation. © Coastal Education & Research Foundation 2013. Fil:Meccia, V.L. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. Fil:Simionato, C.G. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. JOUR info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/ar http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_07490208_v29_n1_p61_Meccia
institution Universidad de Buenos Aires
institution_str I-28
repository_str R-134
collection Biblioteca Digital - Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (UBA)
topic 37°?34° S
60°?54° W
Modeling
stratification
vertical structure
wind forcing
air-sea interaction
estuarine environment
estuarine pollution
geoaccumulation
numerical model
pollutant
runoff
salinity
surface water
temperature effect
tidal cycle
timescale
wind forcing
wind velocity
Montevideo [Uruguay]
Rio de la Plata
Uruguay
spellingShingle 37°?34° S
60°?54° W
Modeling
stratification
vertical structure
wind forcing
air-sea interaction
estuarine environment
estuarine pollution
geoaccumulation
numerical model
pollutant
runoff
salinity
surface water
temperature effect
tidal cycle
timescale
wind forcing
wind velocity
Montevideo [Uruguay]
Rio de la Plata
Uruguay
Meccia, V.L.
Simionato, C.G.
Guerrero, R.A.
The Río de la plata estuary response to wind variability in synoptic timescale: Salinity fields and salt wedge structure
topic_facet 37°?34° S
60°?54° W
Modeling
stratification
vertical structure
wind forcing
air-sea interaction
estuarine environment
estuarine pollution
geoaccumulation
numerical model
pollutant
runoff
salinity
surface water
temperature effect
tidal cycle
timescale
wind forcing
wind velocity
Montevideo [Uruguay]
Rio de la Plata
Uruguay
description Meccia, V.L.; Simionato, C.G., and Guerrero, R.A., 2013. The Río de la Plata estuary response to wind variability in synoptic timescale: salinity fields and salt wedge structure. The Río de la Plata estuary response to wind variability in a synoptic timescale is studied with the Estuarine, Coastal and Ocean Model forced by tides, runoff, and idealized winds. Ancillary conductivity, temperature, and depth data from synoptic oceanographic cruises are used to validate the conclusions derived from the simulations. Results show that the estuary's response to wind variability can be explained in terms of four characteristic patterns associated with winds that blow with a dominant component either along or across the estuary axis. Cross-estuary winds from the SW produce a northward displacement of the surface salinity front toward the Uruguayan coast and cause downwelling between Montevideo and Punta del Este. Reciprocally, under NE winds, the surface salinity front migrates to the SW and upwelling between Montevideo and Punta del Este occurs. Along-estuary winds with a downstream component produce a net outflow of continental surface waters and inflow of bottom shelf waters, resulting in an intensification of the stratification. In opposition, winds with an upstream component produce a weakening of the vertical structure. Stratification can be destroyed by strong or persistent SE winds, which are not frequent in the region, and it recovers in a relatively short period (10-15 days) after wind relaxation. Consequently, the salt wedge structure is observed in the Río de la Plata during most of the year. This implies that significant vertical mixing events producing exchanges of water and properties between the surface and the bottom waters occur only a few times a year. As a consequence, the Río de la Plata shows strong retentive features, favoring biota by retaining eggs and larvae-and favoring pollutant accumulation. © Coastal Education & Research Foundation 2013.
format JOUR
author Meccia, V.L.
Simionato, C.G.
Guerrero, R.A.
author_facet Meccia, V.L.
Simionato, C.G.
Guerrero, R.A.
author_sort Meccia, V.L.
title The Río de la plata estuary response to wind variability in synoptic timescale: Salinity fields and salt wedge structure
title_short The Río de la plata estuary response to wind variability in synoptic timescale: Salinity fields and salt wedge structure
title_full The Río de la plata estuary response to wind variability in synoptic timescale: Salinity fields and salt wedge structure
title_fullStr The Río de la plata estuary response to wind variability in synoptic timescale: Salinity fields and salt wedge structure
title_full_unstemmed The Río de la plata estuary response to wind variability in synoptic timescale: Salinity fields and salt wedge structure
title_sort río de la plata estuary response to wind variability in synoptic timescale: salinity fields and salt wedge structure
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_07490208_v29_n1_p61_Meccia
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