Hydrodynamic effects at the entry of tidal waves into estuaries

Abstract

The phenomenon of an increase in tidal wave height in cone-shaped estuaries is studied. The effect of estuary narrowing in the direction of tidal wave propagation (the hydrodynamic effect of confusor) is among the factors amplifying the tide. An opposite effect of turbulent friction, whose manifestation increases with decreasing bay’s depth, conversely, reduces tide amplitude because of the dissipation of tidal wave energy. Stokes diffusion layer also plays a significant role in the formation of wave transformation regime. In an estuary with a median depth, which is much greater than the Stokes layer thickness, the confusor effect is stronger and tide amplitude increases at estuary head. At depths lesser than Stokes layer thickness, the turbulent friction dominates over the confusor effect and the amplitude of tidal wave decreases at the head of the estuary. The depths of the order of Stokes layer thickness cause an interesting intermediate phenomenon—at the entrance into the estuary, first the effect of friction manifests itself, resulting in a decrease in the amplitude of tidal wave, but later, the effect of confusor starts dominating, and the amplitude of tidal wave again increases toward estuary head. When the period of tidal wave coincides with seiche period, a resonance enhancement of seiche oscillations takes place in the estuary.