The objective of this research is to identify the circulation patterns of the water and sediment fluxes in coastal and estuarine zones, where the shoaling processes correlate with tide generating flow patterns. The research provides a better understanding of the characteristics of spatial and temporal variability of currents. An important deviation from previous research is the inclusion of the baroclinic term, which becomes very important in density driven flows. The understanding of this process provides a basis for determining how the water circulation three-dimensionally controls the hydrodynamics of the system and ultimately transports the suspended and soluble materials due to combined currents and waves. A three-dimensional circulation model is used to calculate the water circulation. The model is based on the three-dimensional (3D) version of Advanced Circulation (AD-CIRC) Hydrodynamic Model with extending the Sediment Transport module. The model is based on the finite element method on unstructured grids. The output of the hydrody-namic model is used to estimate spatial and temporal advections, dispersions and bottom shear stress for the erosion, suspension, deposition and transport of sediment. The model development includes extending the existing three-dimensional (3D) ADCIRC Model with (1) baroclinic forcing term and (2) transport module of suspended and soluble materials. The transport module covers the erosion, material suspension and deposition processes for both cohesive and non-cohesive type sediments. The inclusion of the baroclinic demonstrates the potential of over or underpredicting the total net transport of suspended cohesive sediment under influence of currents. The model provides less than 6% error of theoretical mass conservation for eroded, suspended and deposited sediment material. The inclusion of the baroclinic term in stratified water demonstrates the prevailing longshore sediment transport. It is shown that the model has an application to the transport of the cohesive sediments from the mouth of the Mississippi River along the north shore of the Gulf of Mexico towards and along the Texas coast. The model is also applicable to determine the design erosion thickness of a cap for isolating contaminated dredged material and to evaluate the appro-priate grain size of cap sediments to minimize the erosion.

The baroclinic and surface-frictional contributions to stratified wake formation are considered as a function of the non-dimensional height ( = Nho/U) and aspect-ratio ( = ho/L) of the barrier. Numerical simulations are computed for a wide range of the - parameter space, including both unstratified ( = 0) and highly stratified ( = 4) flows and for terrain slopes characteristic of both geophysical ( = 0.1) and laboratory scale ( = 2.0) obstacles. Simulations both with and without applied surface stresses are compared to gain insight into the baroclinic and surface-frictional contributions to each flow. Particular emphasis is given to the changes in kinematic wake structure, the relative contributions of skin and pressure drag, and the vertical momentum flux observed as the mountain height and terrain slope are varied. We also examine several cases from the parameter-space study in more detail using a method for decomposing the flow into baroclinic and viscous parts. The decompositions show that for large- and small- flows, wake generation is primarily baroclinic in nature, while at smaller- and/or larger-, the wake becomes increasingly surface frictional.

This study investigates the hydrodynamic variations in the coastal region of Nan-bin, Hualien influence by the topography and water stratification. The data used were collected from four cruises of field observations in 2008/4/29¡B2008/9/5~6¡B2009/3/17~18 and 2009/7/21. Instruments applied include sb-ADCP and CTD. Parameters recorded include flow velocities, water temperature and salinity and tidal elevations. The collected data are analyzed through a variety of time series analysis technique, including buoyancy frequency EOF analysis, potential vorticity and kinetic energy. The results show that (1) the flow field and vorticity in the south side of Hualien Harbor indicate there exist a counterclockwise eddy during flood. The flow pattern reverse to be a clockwise eddy during ebb. The current speed and vorticity is smaller in the surface layer, while the bottom current speed and vorticity is much larger. (2) Currents in transects of along slope, along canyon and along shore all reveal two layers flow separated around 25m, with upper layer flowing eastward and lower layer westward. The current velocity reaches to a maximum at 55m, and the current directions were dominated by the orientation of bottom topography. The baroclinic kinetic energy increase to 0.15m2/s2 along the down slope transect, while the up slope kinetic energy reduced to 0.05m2/s2. (3) The CTD data suggest that the upper layer is warm-fresh water due to river outputs, while the lower layer is dominated by cold-salty open ocean water. (4) The density interface at 25 m is confirmed by buoyance frequency analysis. The EOF analysis of density distribution shows eigenvalue of first mode has maximum at 53m, while the second mode has peaks at 25m and 65m, which match well with the vertical of distribution of flow structures.

Divergence structures associated with the spectrum of precipitating systems in the subtropics and midlatitudes are not well documented. A mesoscale model (MM5) is employed to quantify the relative importance different baroclinic environments have on divergence profiles for common storm types in southeast Texas, a subtropical region. Divergence profiles averaged over a 100 x 100 nested grid with 3-km grid spacing are calculated from the model-derived wind fields for each storm. The divergence profiles simulated for selected storms are consistent with those calculated from an S-band radar using the velocity-azimuth display (VAD) technique. Divergence profiles from well-modeled storms vary in magnitude and structure across the spectrum of baroclinicities and storm types common in southeast Texas. Barotropic storms more characteristic of the Tropics generate the most elevated divergence (and thus diabatic heating) structures with the largest magnitudes. As the degree of baroclinicity increases, stratiform area fractions increase while the levels of non-divergence (LNDs) decrease. However, some weakly baroclinic storms contain stratiform area fractions and divergence profiles with magnitudes and LNDs that are similar to barotropic storms, despite having lower tropopause heights and less deep convection. Additional convection forms after the passage of some of the modeled barotropic and weakly baroclinic storms that contain elevated divergence signatures, circumstantially suggesting that heating at upper-levels may cause diabatic feedbacks that help drive regions of persistent convection in the subtropics. Applying a two-dimensional stratiform-convective separation algorithm to MM5 reflectivity data generates realistic stratiform and convective divergence signals. Stratiform regions in barotropic storms contain thicker, more elevated mid-level convergence structures with larger magnitudes than strongly baroclinic storms, while weakly baroclinic storms have LNDs that fall somewhere in between with magnitudes similar to barotropic storms. Divergence profiles within convective regions typically become more elevated as baroclinicity decreases, although variations in magnitude are less coherent. These simulations suggest that MM5 adequately captures mass field perturbations within convective and stratiform regions, the latter of which produces diabatic feedbacks capable of generating additional convection. As a result, future research determining the climatological dynamic response caused by divergence profiles in MM5 may be feasible.

The baroclinic and surface-frictional contributions to stratified wake formation are considered as a function of the non-dimensional height ( = Nho/U) and aspect-ratio ( = ho/L) of the barrier. Numerical simulations are computed for a wide range of the - parameter space, including both unstratified ( = 0) and highly stratified ( = 4) flows and for terrain slopes characteristic of both geophysical ( = 0.1) and laboratory scale ( = 2.0) obstacles. Simulations both with and without applied surface stresses are compared to gain insight into the baroclinic and surface-frictional contributions to each flow. Particular emphasis is given to the changes in kinematic wake structure, the relative contributions of skin and pressure drag, and the vertical momentum flux observed as the mountain height and terrain slope are varied. We also examine several cases from the parameter-space study in more detail using a method for decomposing the flow into baroclinic and viscous parts. The decompositions show that for large- and small- flows, wake generation is primarily baroclinic in nature, while at smaller- and/or larger-, the wake becomes increasingly surface frictional.

The objective of this research is to identify the circulation patterns of the water and sediment fluxes in coastal and estuarine zones, where the shoaling processes correlate with tide generating flow patterns. The research provides a better understanding of the characteristics of spatial and temporal variability of currents. An important deviation from previous research is the inclusion of the baroclinic term, which becomes very important in density driven flows. The understanding of this process provides a basis for determining how the water circulation three-dimensionally controls the hydrodynamics of the system and ultimately transports the suspended and soluble materials due to combined currents and waves. A three-dimensional circulation model is used to calculate the water circulation. The model is based on the three-dimensional (3D) version of Advanced Circulation (AD-CIRC) Hydrodynamic Model with extending the Sediment Transport module. The model is based on the finite element method on unstructured grids. The output of the hydrody-namic model is used to estimate spatial and temporal advections, dispersions and bottom shear stress for the erosion, suspension, deposition and transport of sediment. The model development includes extending the existing three-dimensional (3D) ADCIRC Model with (1) baroclinic forcing term and (2) transport module of suspended and soluble materials. The transport module covers the erosion, material suspension and deposition processes for both cohesive and non-cohesive type sediments. The inclusion of the baroclinic demonstrates the potential of over or underpredicting the total net transport of suspended cohesive sediment under influence of currents. The model provides less than 6% error of theoretical mass conservation for eroded, suspended and deposited sediment material. The inclusion of the baroclinic term in stratified water demonstrates the prevailing longshore sediment transport. It is shown that the model has an application to the transport of the cohesive sediments from the mouth of the Mississippi River along the north shore of the Gulf of Mexico towards and along the Texas coast. The model is also applicable to determine the design erosion thickness of a cap for isolating contaminated dredged material and to evaluate the appro-priate grain size of cap sediments to minimize the erosion.

abstract: A numerical study of incremental spin-up and spin-up from rest of a thermally- stratified fluid enclosed within a right circular cylinder with rigid bottom and side walls and stress-free upper surface is presented. Thermally stratified spin-up is a typical example of baroclinity, which is initiated by a sudden increase in rotation rate and the tilting of isotherms gives rise to baroclinic source of vorticity. Research by (Smirnov et al. [2010a]) showed the differences in evolution of instabilities when Dirichlet and Neumann thermal boundary conditions were applied at top and bottom walls. Study of parametric variations carried out in this dissertation confirmed the instability patterns observed by them for given aspect ratio and Rossby number values greater than 0.5. Also results reveal that flow maintained axisymmetry and stability for short aspect ratio containers independent of amount of rotational increment imparted. Investigation on vorticity components provides framework for baroclinic vorticity feedback mechanism which plays important role in delayed rise of instabilities when Dirichlet thermal Boundary Conditions are applied. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Mechanical Engineering 2011

The objective of this study was to develop a 3-D model for The Pontchartrain Estuary that was capable of long-term mass conservative simulation of salinities. This was accomplished in a multi-stage approach involving: a physical model of salinity exchange through a pass; a 3-D FVCOM model of the physical experiment; the development and testing of an FVCOM model for an idealized Pontchartrain Basin; and for the entire estuary. The data from the physical model tests were used to validate the performance of the FVCOM model with density-driven flows. These results showed that hydrostatic FVCOM captured the primary internal wave movement. The idealized basin simulations were used to evaluate several issues related to salinity transport, namely the relative importance of baroclinic forcing, tidal forcing and hydrology. The idealized domain also permitted the testing of sigma-gradients, spatial distribution of friction coefficients, wind stress and various boundary treatments. The results showed that the density-driven exchange of saltwater at the open boundary required a baroclinic boundary condition for salinity as well as a lateral filter at the boundary on each sigma layer. A new radiative baroclinic open boundary condition was developed for FVCOM. When tides and hydrology were included, the FVCOM model was shown to reproduce the seasonal salinity that has been observed for long-term periods. It was also found that the simulation of tides and salinity in FVCOM is very sensitive to the spatial distribution of the friction coefficient; relatively low friction was required in the open water regions and high friction was needed in the passes and waterways to reproduce the tides and salinity distribution. A variable friction coefficient option was coded on FVCOM. The findings from the idealized model were utilized to setup two models for the actual estuary. Both models extend from Lake Maurepas, one to the Chandeleurs Islands and the other to Mobile Bay. The baroclinic open boundary and variable friction were implemented in these models. They were calibrated for tides and salinity. The 2008 Bonnet Carré Spillway Opening was applied to the first model. A tidal pumping effect in Lake Pontchartrain was observed and captured by the model.

Esta pesquisa foi conduzida para o conhecimento da estrutura tridimensional de propriedades hidrográficas e de correntes na Baía de Guanabara (RJ, Brasil). Para atingir esse objetivo foi feita a análise de um conjunto de medições quase-sinóticas de propriedades hidrográficas e de velocidade em experimentos realizados na escala de tempo sazonal e de modulação da maré (quinzenal e semidiurna). Quatro estações fixas foram distribuídas na baía, no inverno e no verão austral (julho de 2000 e fevereiro de 2001); três seções latitudinais e uma longitudinal, e adicionalmente uma estação fixa, foram realizadas na baía em julho de 2003 e fevereiro de 2004. Os perfilamentos hidrográficos e de correntes foram feitos com equipamentos Condutividade-Temperatura-Pressão-Correntógrafo Acústico e um Perfilador Acústico Doppler. Em julho de 2000 os extremos de correntes de enchente e vazante, durante modulação quinzenal da maré, variaram de 0,70 m s-1 a -0,50 m s-1 e 0,80 m s-1 a -0,60 m s-1, na estação fixa localizada na entrada da baía. A salinidade (temperatura) apresentou distribuições verticais fracamente estratificadas e seus valores extremos foram modulados pelas correntes, durante o ciclo de maré de enchente e vazante, foram: 34,80 (21,50oC) e 35,8 (20,5 oC); a baía foi classificada como tipo 2a (parcial e fracamente estratificada), com pequena influência da modulação da maré, predominando a difusão da maré para o transporte de sal para o interior da baía. Em fevereiro de 2001, os máximos das intensidades de enchente e vazante variaram de 0,25 m s-1 a -0,50 m s-1 e 1,00 m s-1 a -0.70 m s-1, para as condições de quadratura e sizígia, respectivamente, e as intensidades das correntes secundárias foram pequenas (?u ?< 0,30 m s-1). Devido ao aquecimento sazonal e ao aumento da descarga fluvial, a estratificação vertical aumentou e as temperaturas e salinidades variaram de 20,0oC a 27,0oC e 33,0 a 35,5; a análise de massas de água indicou sinais da intrusão da Água Central do Atlântico Sul na baía. Devido à modulação da maré a classificação variou dos tipos 2b ao tipo 2a (parcialmente misturados com alta e fraca estratificação vertical, respectivamente) e no primeiro tipo, a difusão da maré e o efeito baroclínico foram responsáveis pelo transporte de sal para o interior da baía. xiii Em julho de 2003 e fevereiro de 2004, os componentes de velocidade longitudinal e transversal (secundário), o transporte de volume e sal através das seções latitudinais foram analisados para as condições de maré de sizígia e quadratura e na enchente e vazante. Nesses experimentos, o componente longitudinal da corrente nas seções transversais apresentou cisalhamentos verticais e laterais. As correntes mais intensas foram observadas na maré de sizígia, atingindo valores de até 0,80 m s-1 e -0,70 m s-1 para as correntes de enchente e vazante na entrada da baía. Os componentes transversais foram em geral menos intensos (?u ?< 0,40 m s-1), mas ocasionalmente valores maiores foram observados, provavelmente devido a efeitos topográficos. A variação do transporte de volume durante o ciclo de maré mostrou-se assimétrico, indicando a saída de água da baía, com defasagem de aproximadamente uma hora em relação à maré; o transporte de volume resultante apresentou os seguintes valores: -(4.15±1.85)x103 m3 s-1 a -(7.31±2.16)x103 m3 s-1, e -(1.37±2.08)x103 a -(0.23±1.59)x103 m3 s-1 para julho e fevereiro, respectivamente; esses resultados indicam que em fevereiro a renovação da água da baía foi mais eficiente. Levando-se em conta valores climatológicos da descarga fluvial na baía os valores da razão de fluxo (<0,05) indicaram que a maré é a principal forçante da dinâmica da baía. Tal como em fevereiro de 2001, a análise do diagrama T-S indicou que a ACAS foi um componente importante para a formação da massa de água nessa época do ano, penetrando na baía até cerca de 15 km. Os componentes do transporte advectivo de sal, calculados para a seção localizada na boca da BG e durante a maré de sizígia, tiveram ordem de grandeza muito próxima entre si (?2,6x105 kg s-1). Os resultados indicaram que o cisalhamento lateral de correntes é de importância fundamental para o estudo de processos de transporte na Baía de Guanabara. / This research leads to a new knowledge on the tridimensional hydrographic and current structure in the Guanabara Bay (RJ, Brazil). To reach this goal, an analysis was made from a data set of horizontal and vertical nearly-synoptic hydrographic and current measurements, from experiments realized in seasonal and tidal modulation time scales (fortnightly and tidal cycles). Four anchor stations were occupied in the austral winter and summer (July, 2000 and February, 2001); three latitudinal and one longitudinal cross-sections were made along the bay and additionally one anchor station were sampled in July, 2003, and February, 2004. The hydrographic and current profiles were sampled with a Conductivity-Temperature-Depth-Acustic-currentmeter and an Acustic Doppler Profiler. In July, 2000, the flood and ebb current highest intensities varied from 0.70 m s-1 to -0.50 m s-1 and 0.80 m s-1 to -0.60 m s-1 in the bay mouth. Salinity (temperature) structures were weakly stratified and its extreme values modulated by the currents, during the ebb-flood tidal cycle, were 34.8 (21.5oC) and 35.8 (20.5oC); the bay was classified as type 2a (partially mixed and weakly stratified), almost independently of the tidal modulation and tidal diffusion was the main mechanism for the salt intrusion into the bay. In February, 2001, flood and ebb current highest intensities varied from 0.25 m s-1 to -0.50 m s-1 and 1.00 m s-1 to -0.70 m s-1; transversal (secondary) components had low intensities (?u?<0,20 m s-1). Due to the seasonal heating and the increase in fresh water input, temperatures and salinities varied from 20.0oC to 27.0oC and 33.0 to 35.5; a signal of the South Atlantic Central Water (SACW) intrusion into the bay was observed. Due to the tidal modulation the classification changed from types 2b (partially mixed and highly stratified) to 2a in neap and spring tidal conditions, respectively; in the neap tide condition, tidal diffusion and the baroclinic effects were responsible for the salt transport into the bay. In July, 2003, and February, 2004, the longitudinal and transversal (secondary) velocity components, the volume and salt transport across the latitudinal transects were analysed for spring-neap tidal cycle and at flood and ebb tidal stages. In both experiments the longitudinal current component in the xv cross-sections were characterized by lateral and vertical velocities shears. The strongest currents were observed, reaching values up to 0,80 m s-1 and -0,70 m s-1 for the flood and ebb currents, during the neap-spring tidal cycle in the bay mouth. The transversal (secondary) component were usually low (?u?<0.4 m s-1), but occasionally reached higher values probably due to topographic effects. Volume transport at the bay mouth was asymmetric, showing an outflow with a phase lag of one hour in relationship with the tidal cycle; the resultant volume transport during the neap-spring tidal cycle varied from -(4.15±1.85)x103 m3 s-1 to (-7.31±2.16)x103 m3 s-1, and -(1.37±2.08)x103 to -(0.23±1.59)x103 m3 s-1 for July and February, respectively; these results indicated the water mass renewal was more effective in February. Taking into account climatological values of the fresh water discharge, the flux rate values (<0.05) indicated that the tide is the main dynamic forcing. Like in the 2001 experiment, the analysis of the T-S diagram indicated that the SACW mass was the main component for the water mass formation during the austral summer, reaching at least 15 km into the bay. The components of the advective salt transport were dependent on the cross-section area and in the bay mouth and spring tide the salt transport components had almost the same order of magnitude ?2.6x105 kg s-1. Our results shows that lateral velocity shear must be taken into account in studying transport processes in the Guanabara Bay.

O sistema de correntes de contorno oeste que flui ao largo da costa leste brasileira entre 15°S e 22°S, é composto pela Corrente do Brasil (CB) fluindo para sul, a Sub-Corrente Norte do Brasil (SNB) fluindo para norte e a Corrente de Contorno Oeste Profunda (CCP) também fluindo para sul. Vigorosos meandros e vórtices são observados à jusante dos Bancos de Abrolhos (BA) e Royal Charlotte (BRC) e da Cadeia Vitória-Trindade. O objetivo central desta dissertação é o estudo da estabilidade deste sistema de correntes, aqui denomidado Sistema CB-SNB-CCP, utilizando o modelo oceânico da Universidade de Princeton (POM) em um cenário idealizado. Buscamos responder o quão instável é este sistema e quais seriam as características das ondas instáveis geradas a fim de contribuir para o conhecimento acerca da rica dinâmica de meso-escala observada nesta região. Objetivamos também, elucidar o papel dos BA e BRC nesta dinâmica. Embasados na alta baroclinicidade do sistema de correntes de contorno ao largo do sudeste brasileiro, optamos por representar o escoamento CB-SNB-CCP através de um modelo paramétrico do campo de massa, calibrado com os dados hidrográficos oriundos dos Cruzeiros Abrolhos [Silveira et al., 2006]. Mantendo o caráter idealizado do estudo, também empregamos topografia de fundo analítica, onde representamos o talude da região por uma função tangente hiporbólica. O BA e o BRC foram aproximados através de funções gaussianas devidademente ajustadas aos contornos da isóbata de 80 m extraídas do conjunto ETOPO 2. Para identificar os mecanismos de crescimento das possíveis ondas instáveis, calculou-se o balanço de energia das simulações realizadas de acordo com o método de [Xue & Bane, 1997]. Os resultados de três experimentos numéricos realizados sugerem que o sistema CB-SNB-CCP é instável. Ciclones quase-estacionários do lado costeiro da CB surgem como o principal modo de variabilidade desta corrente. De acordo com a análise do balanço energético, o crescimento dessas feições resulta primariamente de instabilidade baroclínica do escoamento. A escala horizontal típica das ondas e vórtices instáveis modelados é dada pelo raio de deformação interno, como esperado pela teoria de instabilidade baroclínica de escoamentos realisticamente estratificados. Em particular, os resultados do experimento com o BA e o BRC idealizados comprovam que estes funcionam como gatilhos para o desenvolvimento de ondas instáveis, favorecendo amplamente o crescimento das estruturas verticais. Os trens de onda instáveis quase-estacionários aqui obtidos sugerem que provavelmente o meandramento da CB observado em latitudes que se estendem até 28°S pode ser parte de um único sistema que se origina na região dos BA e BRC. / The western boundary currents system that flows off the eastern brazilian coast between 15°S e 22°S is composed by the southward-flowing Brazil Current (BC), the northward-flowing North Brazil Under Current (NBUC) and the Deep Western Boundary Current (DWBC) that flows south. Vigorous meanders and eddies are observed downstream of the Abrolhos (AB) and Royal Charlotte Banks (RCB) and the Vitória-Trindade Ridge. The main goal of this dissertation is to study the stability of this currents system, hereby named BC-NBUC-DWBC system, using the Princeton University Ocean Model (POM) in an idealized scenerio. We seek to answer how unstable is this system and what are the characteristics of the unstable waves in order to contribute to the understanding of the rich mesoescale dynamics observed in this region. We also aim to elucidate the role of the AB and of the RCB on this dynamics. Based on the high degree of baroclinicity of the western boundary currents system off the southeastern brazilian coast, we opted to represent the BC-NBUC-DWBC system through a parametric model of the mass field, calibrated with hydrographic data from the Abrolhos Cruises [Silveira et al., 2006]. Maintaining the idealized character of the study, we have also employed an analytical bottom topography, in which the region\'s continental slope is approximated by hyperbolic tangent function. The AB and RCB were approximated by gaussian functions properly adjusted to the 80 m isobath extracted from the ETOPO 2 database. To identify the growth mecanism of the unstable waves, the energy budget of the simulations was calculated according to [Xue & Bane, 1997]. The results from the three experiments conducted here suggest that the BC-NBUC-DWBC system is indeed unstable. Quasi-stationary cyclones in the coastal side of BC arise as the main mode of variability of this current. According to the energy budget analisys, the growth of these features results primarily from baroclinic instability of BC-NBUC-DWBC flow. The typical horizontal scale of the modeled unstable waves and eddies is given by the internal radius of deformation, as expected by baroclinic instability theory of realistically stratified flows. The quasi-stationary unstable wave trains modeled in the present study also suggest that the meandering of the BC observed down to 28°S are probably part of a single system that originates at the AB and RCB region.