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An ADCP study of subtidal scale density-driven exchange in Saldanha Bay, South Africa

Bibliography: leaves 33-34. / An ADCP and water-column temperature study was conducted to determine the circulation aspect of subtidal-scale, density-driven exchange in Saldanha Bay, South Africa. Density-driven exchange conditions develop in response to synoptic-scale wind events in the southern Benguela region, even under light (<5m s-') wind conditions. During a density-driven exchange event, directionally opposing bi-level flow, similar to an estuarine system, develops in response to remote upwelling-favourable winds. The bi-level flow component occurs in two distinct bands, bayward at 0-9m height from bottom and seaward 15-20m height off bottom, and is very sensitive to changes in wind forcing. Observations of current behaviour are added to the four-phase conceptual model of density-driven exchange developed by Monteiro and Largier (1999). In addition, estimates of bay flushing based on ADCP current velocities and the four-phase conceptual model are calculated and implications of shelf water influx into Saldanha Bay are discussed.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uct/oai:localhost:11427/6455
Date January 2003
CreatorsStewart, Helen Frances
ContributorsMonteiro, Pedro M S, Waldron, Howard, Brundrit, Geoff
PublisherUniversity of Cape Town, Faculty of Science, Department of Oceanography
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeMaster Thesis, Masters, MSc
Formatapplication/pdf

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