FLOW BEHAVIORS OF RIVER EFFLUX INTO ESTUARY

Abstract

The aim of this study is to disclose the characteristics of river efflux into a estuary by means of three-dimensional numerical analysis. The flow behaviors in estuary are governed by river efflux momentum and buoyancy force due to density difference between fresh and salt waters. The flow obtained by test simulation in a model estuary shows the plume or turbulent jets characteristics according to discharge and density. The increase of river discharge has similar effect with the decrease of density difference, in which the flow behavior resembles turbulent jets. On the contrary, the decrease of discharge or the increase of density difference causes the flow similar to a plume. Internal Froude number, the ratio of kinematic energy flux to density-deficit potential energy flux, is found to play an important role to macroscopic flow behaviors.