Frontal Dynamics and Circulation of the Upper Layer of a Fjordsystem with Complicated Topography

Svendsen, Harald; Mikki, Susanne R.; Golmen, Lars G.; ,

Frontal Dynamics and Circulation of the Upper Layer of a Fjordsystem with Complicated Topography

by Harald Svendsen, Univ of Bergen, Bergen, Norway,
Susanne R. Mikki, Univ of Bergen, Bergen, Norway,
Lars G. Golmen, Univ of Bergen, Bergen, Norway,

Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Estuarine and Coastal Modeling

Abstract:

The impact of controlled (varying) discharge from a hydroelectric power plant on the upper layer circulation and hydrography of a fjord system is studied. The system is a fjord with two branches in the inner part. The power plant is situated at the head of one of the branches, whereas there is a constant supply of fresh water at the head of the other branch. A third fresh water source, a river, discharges near the junction of the branches. The study is based on data sampled during three cruises and on numerical simulations. Each field experiment was carried out in accordance with a prearranged power plant operation schedule. In each experiment the circulation and hydrography of the upper layer pass through extensive changes during the first few hours after the power plant was started and a characteristic lense pattern developed in the surface layer. The model (two-dimensional, time dependent wind and fresh water driven) simulates quite well the observed variations. Attention is focused on the relation between upper layer currents and stratification, fresh water supply and wind.

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