Physical behaviour of a large, negative or inverse estuary

Richard A Nunes Vaz, Geoffrey W Lennon, David G Bowers

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

80 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The observational behaviour of a large, negative or inverse estuary is discussed in the context of theoretical, and laboratory models of gravitationally driven circulations. The characteristics of Spencer Gulf, South Australia, in which evaporation exceeds precipitation all year round, and the spring-neap tidal cycle is greatly exaggerated, make it particularly instructive with regard to the role of turbulence in controlling the strength of the baroclinic circulation, and hence the exchange between Gulf and shelf waters. Seasonal influences, involving the reversal of the temperature gradient across the mouth, are shown to have a profound impact on this Gulf-shelf exchange. The development of strong temperature and salinity fronts which are compensatory with respect to density, removes almost all baroclinic forcing in the region and effectively blocks communication across the Gulf entrance during summer. It is apparent that the equilibrium of such systems relies on the sensitive interplay of influences primarily related to the nature of the change from estuary to shelf regime across the entrance, and the variability of turbulence in the region.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)277-304
Number of pages28
JournalContinental Shelf Research
Volume10
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 1990

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