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7 - Flows Driven by Density Gradients
Arnoldo Valle-Levinson, University of Florida
Book:

Introduction to Estuarine Hydrodynamics

Published online:

24 February 2022

Print publication:

03 March 2022, pp 98-123
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Summary

This chapter describes residual flows driven exclusively by density gradients. Chapter 6, in contrast, presented residual flows forced only by winds, and Chapter 5 treated residual flows from tides. This chapter begins with a qualitative description of the flow arising from density gradients established by freshwater input to a semienclosed basin, that is, the density-driven exchange flow or gravitational circulation. It then goes into a dynamical description, grounded in fundamental physics. The dynamical description first considers lateral homogeneity and then allows for lateral variations caused by Earth’s rotation. It follows by considering lateral changes in bathymetry and of the relative contribution of frictional effects versus Earth’s rotation effects. The chapter concludes by exploring the influence of basins' width on the gravitational circulation. Along-basin variations in residual flow are considered in Chapter 8.