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Physical aspects, water movements and modelling studies of the Forth estuary, Scotland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 December 2011

A. J. Webb  and
A. P. Metcalfe
A. J. Webb
Affiliation:
Forth River Purification Board, Tidal Waters Section, Port Edgar Marina, South Queensferry EH30 9SQ, Scotland, U.K.
A. P. Metcalfe
Affiliation:
Forth River Purification Board, Tidal Waters Section, Port Edgar Marina, South Queensferry EH30 9SQ, Scotland, U.K.
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Synopsis

The hydrography of the Forth estuary is described, and various modelling studies that have been carried out are briefly summarised. The description of the hydrography includes information on the currents, salinity, temperature, tidal elevations, and turbidity, as well as physical dimensions and freshwater inputs. The vertical salinity structure of the estuary varies from the well-mixed state to the partially-mixed state, depending on the freshwater input and the tidal range (which determines the amount of turbulent kinetic energy available for mixing). The tides in the estuary exhibit double high and low waters because of shallow-water effects, and there are observations of a small tidal bore. The resuspended solids are found to account for a large fraction of the biochemical oxygen demand in the water column. The modelling studies range from an early physical model, to an analytical model of water-quality, to more recent numerical models produced by the Forth River Purification Board and Imperial Chemical Industries, which were developed in order to assess the impact of proposed discharges on water-quality. Finally, currently active projects are described and suggestions for future work given.

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Section B: Biological Sciences , Volume 93 , Issue 3-4: The Natural Environment of the Estuary and Firth of Forth , 1987 , pp. 259 - 272
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 1987

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