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Article

Main Physical Processes Affecting the Residence Times of a Micro-Tidal Estuary

by
Viyaktha Hithaishi Hewageegana
,
Maitane Olabarrieta
* and
Jose M. Gonzalez-Ondina
Department of Civil and Coastal Engineering, ESSIE, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2023, 11(7), 1333; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11071333
Submission received: 5 June 2023 / Revised: 23 June 2023 / Accepted: 26 June 2023 / Published: 30 June 2023
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Developments in Coastal Transport and Mixing Processes)

Abstract

Residence time is an important parameter linked to the water quality in an estuary. In this paper, we identify and analyze the main processes that affect the residence time of the Caloosahatchee River Estuary, a micro-tidal and mixed diurnal-semidiurnal estuary located in western Florida. Multiyear validated hydrodynamic hindcast results were coupled with an offline particle tracking model to compute the residence time of the estuary, which showed a strong seasonality driven by the river discharge. The residence time reduced with increasing river flow. The wind velocity and direction also affected the residence time. The influence of the wind was dependent on the magnitude of the river discharge. In general, upstream-directed wind increased residence time, while downstream-directed wind decreased residence time. Downstream wind during the dry period reduced residence time on average by a week. Processes such as water density gradient-induced circulation and particle buoyancy also influenced the residence time of the estuary. The outcomes of this study can be used to better understand the influence of the main physical processes affecting the residence time at other similar estuaries and to help in the management of the estuaries to improve their water quality.
Keywords: residence time; estuarine hydrodynamics; water quality; particle tracking residence time; estuarine hydrodynamics; water quality; particle tracking

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MDPI and ACS Style

Hewageegana, V.H.; Olabarrieta, M.; Gonzalez-Ondina, J.M. Main Physical Processes Affecting the Residence Times of a Micro-Tidal Estuary. J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2023, 11, 1333. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11071333

AMA Style

Hewageegana VH, Olabarrieta M, Gonzalez-Ondina JM. Main Physical Processes Affecting the Residence Times of a Micro-Tidal Estuary. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering. 2023; 11(7):1333. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11071333

Chicago/Turabian Style

Hewageegana, Viyaktha Hithaishi, Maitane Olabarrieta, and Jose M. Gonzalez-Ondina. 2023. "Main Physical Processes Affecting the Residence Times of a Micro-Tidal Estuary" Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 11, no. 7: 1333. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11071333

APA Style

Hewageegana, V. H., Olabarrieta, M., & Gonzalez-Ondina, J. M. (2023). Main Physical Processes Affecting the Residence Times of a Micro-Tidal Estuary. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 11(7), 1333. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11071333

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