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• 51. [Article] An Analysis of Secular Change in Tides at Open-Ocean Sites in the Pacific

  Hourly sea level is examined at 25 open-ocean stations in the Pacific Ocean with records longer than 30 yr. A search for trends finds that the amplitude of the dominant semidiurnal tide M2 is increasing ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: An Analysis of Secular Change in Tides at Open-Ocean Sites in the Pacific Author: Zaron, Edward D., Jay, David A. Year: 2014 Hourly sea level is examined at 25 open-ocean stations in the Pacific Ocean with records longer than 30 yr. A search for trends finds that the amplitude of the dominant semidiurnal tide M2 is increasing at 12 of the 13 sites where a statistically significant trend can be identified. It is also found that nontidal variance in the neighborhood of M2 is decreasing at all 12 of the sites where a significant increase in M2 tide is occurring. The trend in amplitude of the dominant diurnal tide K1 is significant at six stations, and it is both increasing (four stations) and decreasing (two stations). The trend in semidiurnal-band variance suggests the hypothesis that increases in M2 could be caused by improvements in time keeping or data processing that would reduce the apparent phase variability of the tide. This possibility is examined and found to be the likely explanation for tidal trends at four stations. Local changes are found to explain the trend at two stations, Johnston Island and Mokuoloe, as diagnosed from correlated changes in nonlinear overtides and site history. Changes in M2 at the equatorial station of Kanton are significant and unexplained by either timing errors or local morphodynamics; although, strong nonlinear overtides are present. Changing tides at five stations in the western Pacific, Malakal, Yap, Saipan, Kapingamarangi, and Pohnpei cannot be explained by the above and suggest a region where a connection between climate and tides may yet be identified. Title: An Analysis of Secular Change in Tides at Open-Ocean Sites in the Pacific Author: Zaron, Edward D., Jay, David A. Year: 2014 Hourly sea level is examined at 25 open-ocean stations in the Pacific Ocean with records longer than 30 yr. A search for trends finds that the amplitude of the dominant semidiurnal tide M2 is increasing at 12 of the 13 sites where a statistically significant trend can be identified. It is also found that nontidal variance in the neighborhood of M2 is decreasing at all 12 of the sites where a significant increase in M2 tide is occurring. The trend in amplitude of the dominant diurnal tide K1 is significant at six stations, and it is both increasing (four stations) and decreasing (two stations). The trend in semidiurnal-band variance suggests the hypothesis that increases in M2 could be caused by improvements in time keeping or data processing that would reduce the apparent phase variability of the tide. This possibility is examined and found to be the likely explanation for tidal trends at four stations. Local changes are found to explain the trend at two stations, Johnston Island and Mokuoloe, as diagnosed from correlated changes in nonlinear overtides and site history. Changes in M2 at the equatorial station of Kanton are significant and unexplained by either timing errors or local morphodynamics; although, strong nonlinear overtides are present. Changing tides at five stations in the western Pacific, Malakal, Yap, Saipan, Kapingamarangi, and Pohnpei cannot be explained by the above and suggest a region where a connection between climate and tides may yet be identified. Close

• 52. [Article] Hydrogeology of Pumice-Hosted Fens in the Winema-Fremont National Forest, Oregon, USA

  Subaerial fallout from the Holocene eruption of Mount Mazama in the Oregon Cascade Range was deposited upon relatively low permeability volcanic and volcaniclastic bedrock and regolith. In the Walker Rim ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Hydrogeology of Pumice-Hosted Fens in the Winema-Fremont National Forest, Oregon, USA Author: Cummings, Michael L., Weatherford, Jonathan Michael, Mowbray, Leslie A Year: 2014 Subaerial fallout from the Holocene eruption of Mount Mazama in the Oregon Cascade Range was deposited upon relatively low permeability volcanic and volcaniclastic bedrock and regolith. In the Walker Rim study area, erosion by ephemeral streams shortly after the eruption disrupted the lateral continuity of the 270 to 300 cm-thick pumice deposit. Co-evolution of the surface- and ground-water systems in a low-relief, low-slope landscape allowed diffuse groundwater discharge from the banks of the evolving stream system. Accumulation of organic material from groundwater dependent ecosystems at these sites of discharge allowed peat deposits to form on gently sloping erosion surfaces cut into the pumice deposit. Following early stream incision, fine-grained, silt-rich deposits accumulated in valleys and contributed permeability barriers to the lateral migration of water in the pumice aquifer. Fens discharge from the pumice aquifer through gently sloping surfaces patterned after the slope of the erosion surface cut into the pumice deposit and overlain by approximately 1 m of peat on the sloping surface and alluvium or iron-cemented pumice overlain by alluvium at the toe of the slope. The predominant source of groundwater is snowmelt which infiltrates the pumice deposit during the freshet. However, shallow groundwater flow also takes place along permeable pathways in bedrock units. Locally, low volume discharge takes place along faults. The snowmelt-dependent hydrologic system that supports the fens of the Walker Rim study area occurs at elevations primarily above 1585 m. Title: Hydrogeology of Pumice-Hosted Fens in the Winema-Fremont National Forest, Oregon, USA Author: Cummings, Michael L., Weatherford, Jonathan Michael, Mowbray, Leslie A Year: 2014 Subaerial fallout from the Holocene eruption of Mount Mazama in the Oregon Cascade Range was deposited upon relatively low permeability volcanic and volcaniclastic bedrock and regolith. In the Walker Rim study area, erosion by ephemeral streams shortly after the eruption disrupted the lateral continuity of the 270 to 300 cm-thick pumice deposit. Co-evolution of the surface- and ground-water systems in a low-relief, low-slope landscape allowed diffuse groundwater discharge from the banks of the evolving stream system. Accumulation of organic material from groundwater dependent ecosystems at these sites of discharge allowed peat deposits to form on gently sloping erosion surfaces cut into the pumice deposit. Following early stream incision, fine-grained, silt-rich deposits accumulated in valleys and contributed permeability barriers to the lateral migration of water in the pumice aquifer. Fens discharge from the pumice aquifer through gently sloping surfaces patterned after the slope of the erosion surface cut into the pumice deposit and overlain by approximately 1 m of peat on the sloping surface and alluvium or iron-cemented pumice overlain by alluvium at the toe of the slope. The predominant source of groundwater is snowmelt which infiltrates the pumice deposit during the freshet. However, shallow groundwater flow also takes place along permeable pathways in bedrock units. Locally, low volume discharge takes place along faults. The snowmelt-dependent hydrologic system that supports the fens of the Walker Rim study area occurs at elevations primarily above 1585 m. Close

• 53. [Article] CE-QUAL-W2 Version 3: Hydrodynamic and Water Quality River Basin Modeling

  CE-QUAL-W2 is a two-dimensional (longitudinal-vertical) water quality and hydrodynamic computer simulation model that was originally developed for deep, long, and narrow waterbodies. The current model, ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: CE-QUAL-W2 Version 3: Hydrodynamic and Water Quality River Basin Modeling Author: Wells, Scott A. Year: 2000 CE-QUAL-W2 is a two-dimensional (longitudinal-vertical) water quality and hydrodynamic computer simulation model that was originally developed for deep, long, and narrow waterbodies. The current model, Version 2, has been used in over 200 river, reservoir/lake, and estuary applications throughout the U.S. and abroad. Version 2, though, cannot accommodate systems that have a significant sloping water surface since the vertical coordinate system is aligned with gravity and vertical accelerations are neglected. The governing equations for CE-QUAL-W2 were re-derived so that it could be applied to entire river basins including river-estuary, lake-river, and reservoir-river systems with channel slopes. This re-derivation is one of many improvements for the Version 3 code. Other improvements include improved numerical schemes, improved and additional water quality algorithms, and algorithms for addition of hydraulic structures (weirs, gates, culverts) between model segments. Test cases for this new code include a 244 km section of the Lower Snake River in Idaho and Oregon; the Bull Run River basin composed of 3 water supply reservoirs and 2 river sections with a 2.2% and a 1.4% average slope in the Oregon Cascade mountains; and the Columbia Slough system in Portland, OR, composed of 33 separate lake systems connected by hydraulic structures and a fresh-water tidal region. Title: CE-QUAL-W2 Version 3: Hydrodynamic and Water Quality River Basin Modeling Author: Wells, Scott A. Year: 2000 CE-QUAL-W2 is a two-dimensional (longitudinal-vertical) water quality and hydrodynamic computer simulation model that was originally developed for deep, long, and narrow waterbodies. The current model, Version 2, has been used in over 200 river, reservoir/lake, and estuary applications throughout the U.S. and abroad. Version 2, though, cannot accommodate systems that have a significant sloping water surface since the vertical coordinate system is aligned with gravity and vertical accelerations are neglected. The governing equations for CE-QUAL-W2 were re-derived so that it could be applied to entire river basins including river-estuary, lake-river, and reservoir-river systems with channel slopes. This re-derivation is one of many improvements for the Version 3 code. Other improvements include improved numerical schemes, improved and additional water quality algorithms, and algorithms for addition of hydraulic structures (weirs, gates, culverts) between model segments. Test cases for this new code include a 244 km section of the Lower Snake River in Idaho and Oregon; the Bull Run River basin composed of 3 water supply reservoirs and 2 river sections with a 2.2% and a 1.4% average slope in the Oregon Cascade mountains; and the Columbia Slough system in Portland, OR, composed of 33 separate lake systems connected by hydraulic structures and a fresh-water tidal region. Close

• 54. [Article] A Comparison of Five Models for Estimating Clear-Sky Solar Radiation

  Many agencies in the USA are developing management approaches to address water quality concerns and threatened and endangered species habitat requirements in water bodies. Many of these water bodies are ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: A Comparison of Five Models for Estimating Clear-Sky Solar Radiation Author: Annear, Robert Leslie, Wells, Scott A. Year: 2007 Many agencies in the USA are developing management approaches to address water quality concerns and threatened and endangered species habitat requirements in water bodies. Many of these water bodies are water quality limited for temperature. Factors influencing stream temperature include: streamside vegetation, topographic shading, inflows and outflows, stream width, stream depth, light extinction and solar radiation. One of the key driving factors in estimating a water body heat budget is calculating the amount of solar radiation incident on the water surface. Even though it is preferable to measure clear-sky solar radiation, many temperature models rely on theoretical estimates of clear-sky solar radiation. The literature on estimating short-wave solar radiation by calculating the position of the sun and attenuating the radiation through the atmosphere was reviewed. As a first step in relating water temperature to solar radiation, several empirical solar radiation models were calibrated to data at seventeen sites around the United States for clear-sky days. Sensitivity analyses were conducted and differences between the models were examined. Results indicated that the more complex models for calculating solar radiation resulted in better estimates of clear-sky solar radiation once they were calibrated to data. When no data were available, models with one or no calibration parameters did reasonably well at estimating clear-sky solar radiation. Title: A Comparison of Five Models for Estimating Clear-Sky Solar Radiation Author: Annear, Robert Leslie, Wells, Scott A. Year: 2007 Many agencies in the USA are developing management approaches to address water quality concerns and threatened and endangered species habitat requirements in water bodies. Many of these water bodies are water quality limited for temperature. Factors influencing stream temperature include: streamside vegetation, topographic shading, inflows and outflows, stream width, stream depth, light extinction and solar radiation. One of the key driving factors in estimating a water body heat budget is calculating the amount of solar radiation incident on the water surface. Even though it is preferable to measure clear-sky solar radiation, many temperature models rely on theoretical estimates of clear-sky solar radiation. The literature on estimating short-wave solar radiation by calculating the position of the sun and attenuating the radiation through the atmosphere was reviewed. As a first step in relating water temperature to solar radiation, several empirical solar radiation models were calibrated to data at seventeen sites around the United States for clear-sky days. Sensitivity analyses were conducted and differences between the models were examined. Results indicated that the more complex models for calculating solar radiation resulted in better estimates of clear-sky solar radiation once they were calibrated to data. When no data were available, models with one or no calibration parameters did reasonably well at estimating clear-sky solar radiation. Close

• 55. [Article] Idaho Pend Oreille River Model: Model Development and Calibration

  The objectives of this project were to: • Develop a hydrodynamic and temperature model of Pend Oreille River using CE-QUAL-W2 Version 3.2 • Calibrate the CE-QUAL-W2 model to field data collected during ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Idaho Pend Oreille River Model: Model Development and Calibration Author: Annear, Robert Leslie, Berger, Chris, Wells, Scott A. Year: 2006 The objectives of this project were to: • Develop a hydrodynamic and temperature model of Pend Oreille River using CE-QUAL-W2 Version 3.2 • Calibrate the CE-QUAL-W2 model to field data collected during 2004 and 2005 using the following water quality variables: flow, water surface elevation, and velocity temperature o dissolved oxygen nutrients (NO3-N+NO2-N, NH4-N, PO4-P) algae – chlorophyll a BOD5 and dissolved organic matter and particulate organic matter compartments (both labile and refractory) for the organic matter cycling with algae periphyton The model chosen for development was CE-QUAL-W2 Version 3.2 (Cole and Wells, 2004). This is a two-dimensional unsteady hydrodynamic and water quality model that includes typical eutrophication constituents (algae, nutrients, temperature, organic matter, dissolved oxygen, pH). Portland State University’s Water Quality Research Group is a center for development of this modeling tool (see http://www.cee.pdx.edu/w2). The model simulation was run from January 1st, 2004 to September 25th, 2005. The calibration period focused on the summers during each year when water quality data were obtained. Title: Idaho Pend Oreille River Model: Model Development and Calibration Author: Annear, Robert Leslie, Berger, Chris, Wells, Scott A. Year: 2006 The objectives of this project were to: • Develop a hydrodynamic and temperature model of Pend Oreille River using CE-QUAL-W2 Version 3.2 • Calibrate the CE-QUAL-W2 model to field data collected during 2004 and 2005 using the following water quality variables: flow, water surface elevation, and velocity temperature o dissolved oxygen nutrients (NO3-N+NO2-N, NH4-N, PO4-P) algae – chlorophyll a BOD5 and dissolved organic matter and particulate organic matter compartments (both labile and refractory) for the organic matter cycling with algae periphyton The model chosen for development was CE-QUAL-W2 Version 3.2 (Cole and Wells, 2004). This is a two-dimensional unsteady hydrodynamic and water quality model that includes typical eutrophication constituents (algae, nutrients, temperature, organic matter, dissolved oxygen, pH). Portland State University’s Water Quality Research Group is a center for development of this modeling tool (see http://www.cee.pdx.edu/w2). The model simulation was run from January 1st, 2004 to September 25th, 2005. The calibration period focused on the summers during each year when water quality data were obtained. Close

• 56. [Article] Modeling the Impact of Water Quality and Food Web Structure on Bull Trout in Two Washington Reservoirs

  Mechanistic models of the hydrodynamics and water quality were developed for Lake Kachess and Lake Keechelus in the Yakima River basin of Eastern Washington. These models were coupled to a fish bioenergetics ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Modeling the Impact of Water Quality and Food Web Structure on Bull Trout in Two Washington Reservoirs Author: Berger, Chris J., Wells, Scott A. Year: 2017 Mechanistic models of the hydrodynamics and water quality were developed for Lake Kachess and Lake Keechelus in the Yakima River basin of Eastern Washington. These models were coupled to a fish bioenergetics model and used to explore management strategies to improve water quality in the reservoirs affecting kokanee production. The models were also applied to evaluate the impacts of the proposed implementation of the Kachess Drought Relief Pumping Plant (KDRPP) projects. The public domain model, CEQUAL-W2 Version 4 (Cole and Wells, 2016) was adapted to model the reservoirs. CEQUAL-W2 is a 2-dimensional (longitudinal-vertical) hydrodynamic and water quality model capable of predicting water surface, velocity, temperature, nutrients, multiple algae, zooplankton, periphyton, and macrophyte species, fish bioenergetics, sediment diagenesis, dissolved oxygen, pH, alkalinity, multiple CBOD groups, multiple suspended solids groups, multiple generic constituents (such as tracer, bacteria, toxics), and multiple organic matter groups, both dissolved and particulate. The model is set up to predict these state variables at longitudinal segments and vertical layers. Comparisons of field data to model predictions were made for water level, temperature, NH4-N, NO3-N, PO4-P, total N, Total P, total organic carbon, alkalinity, zooplankton, pH, chlorophyll a, and dissolved oxygen at multiple reservoir sites at various depths. Title: Modeling the Impact of Water Quality and Food Web Structure on Bull Trout in Two Washington Reservoirs Author: Berger, Chris J., Wells, Scott A. Year: 2017 Mechanistic models of the hydrodynamics and water quality were developed for Lake Kachess and Lake Keechelus in the Yakima River basin of Eastern Washington. These models were coupled to a fish bioenergetics model and used to explore management strategies to improve water quality in the reservoirs affecting kokanee production. The models were also applied to evaluate the impacts of the proposed implementation of the Kachess Drought Relief Pumping Plant (KDRPP) projects. The public domain model, CEQUAL-W2 Version 4 (Cole and Wells, 2016) was adapted to model the reservoirs. CEQUAL-W2 is a 2-dimensional (longitudinal-vertical) hydrodynamic and water quality model capable of predicting water surface, velocity, temperature, nutrients, multiple algae, zooplankton, periphyton, and macrophyte species, fish bioenergetics, sediment diagenesis, dissolved oxygen, pH, alkalinity, multiple CBOD groups, multiple suspended solids groups, multiple generic constituents (such as tracer, bacteria, toxics), and multiple organic matter groups, both dissolved and particulate. The model is set up to predict these state variables at longitudinal segments and vertical layers. Comparisons of field data to model predictions were made for water level, temperature, NH4-N, NO3-N, PO4-P, total N, Total P, total organic carbon, alkalinity, zooplankton, pH, chlorophyll a, and dissolved oxygen at multiple reservoir sites at various depths. Close

• 57. [Article] Development of a Steady-State River Hydrodynamic and Temperature Model Based on CE-QUAL-W2

  CE-QUAL-W2 is a 2-D hydrodynamic and water quality model that has been applied to reservoirs, lakes, river systems, and estuaries throughout the world. However, when this model is applied for shallow systems, ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Development of a Steady-State River Hydrodynamic and Temperature Model Based on CE-QUAL-W2 Author: Xu, Wenwei Year: 2014 CE-QUAL-W2 is a 2-D hydrodynamic and water quality model that has been applied to reservoirs, lakes, river systems, and estuaries throughout the world. However, when this model is applied for shallow systems, this model requires a long calculation time to maintain numerical stability, compared to applications of reservoirs or deeper river systems. To solve this problem, a new hydrodynamic and temperature model was built based on the framework of CE-QUAL-W2 but that allows for steady-state hydrodynamic computations. By calculating the hydrodynamics at steady-state, the time step for stability is relaxed and simulations can proceed at much higher time steps. The rest of the model framework is still used for water quality state variables, in this case, temperature. The algorithm used for computing the water surface elevation is Manning's equation. This thesis study is one part of the Willamette Water 2100 project (Santelmann et al., 2012), which examines hydrological, ecological, and human factors affecting water scarcity in the Willamette River Basin. This study included three stages: (1) Convert six existing CE-QUAL-W2 V3.1 models into a newer version: CE-QUAL-W2 V3.7. (2) Develop the steady-state model code in FORTRAN. (3) Test the steady-state model on three river systems in the Willamette River Basin at Year 2001 and 2002. The result proved that the steady-state model could reduce the computing time by 90% for river applications, while predicting dynamic river temperature with high accuracy at a two-minute time scale. This new model will be employed to simulate the future of the Willamette River System at a decadal or centennial timescales, addressing river temperature concerns and fish habitat issues. Title: Development of a Steady-State River Hydrodynamic and Temperature Model Based on CE-QUAL-W2 Author: Xu, Wenwei Year: 2014 CE-QUAL-W2 is a 2-D hydrodynamic and water quality model that has been applied to reservoirs, lakes, river systems, and estuaries throughout the world. However, when this model is applied for shallow systems, this model requires a long calculation time to maintain numerical stability, compared to applications of reservoirs or deeper river systems. To solve this problem, a new hydrodynamic and temperature model was built based on the framework of CE-QUAL-W2 but that allows for steady-state hydrodynamic computations. By calculating the hydrodynamics at steady-state, the time step for stability is relaxed and simulations can proceed at much higher time steps. The rest of the model framework is still used for water quality state variables, in this case, temperature. The algorithm used for computing the water surface elevation is Manning's equation. This thesis study is one part of the Willamette Water 2100 project (Santelmann et al., 2012), which examines hydrological, ecological, and human factors affecting water scarcity in the Willamette River Basin. This study included three stages: (1) Convert six existing CE-QUAL-W2 V3.1 models into a newer version: CE-QUAL-W2 V3.7. (2) Develop the steady-state model code in FORTRAN. (3) Test the steady-state model on three river systems in the Willamette River Basin at Year 2001 and 2002. The result proved that the steady-state model could reduce the computing time by 90% for river applications, while predicting dynamic river temperature with high accuracy at a two-minute time scale. This new model will be employed to simulate the future of the Willamette River System at a decadal or centennial timescales, addressing river temperature concerns and fish habitat issues. Close

• 58. [Article] Analysis of Landsat Satellite Data to Monitor Water Quality Parameters in Tenmile Lake, Oregon

  The health of North and South Tenmile Lakes in coastal Oregon has declined since the introduction of invasive species of fish and plant life in the 1920s. The lakes are now on the Federal Clean Water Act ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Analysis of Landsat Satellite Data to Monitor Water Quality Parameters in Tenmile Lake, Oregon Author: Waxter, Michael T. Year: 2014 The health of North and South Tenmile Lakes in coastal Oregon has declined since the introduction of invasive species of fish and plant life in the 1920s. The lakes are now on the Federal Clean Water Act list of impaired water bodies due, in part, to a lack of dissolved oxygen and Hazardous Algae Blooms (HAB) blooms that occur during June through September. In this report we discuss the possibility of detecting and monitoring these blooms using satellite measurements of water surface color. In-situ measurements obtained from the Tenmile Lakes Basin Partnership were used to calibrate reflectance from the Thematic Mapper on the Landsat 5 satellite. Results show a good linear correlation between turbidity and radiance, which are inversely related in algal dominated lakes. Additionally, a correlation between biovolume and reflectance was obtained. Spatial patterns of turbidity and biovolume are observed, with large concentrations observed in lake areas with large residence times. The comparatively lowest concentrations are observed along the probable pathway of cleaner water input by creeks into the lake. However, the ability to predict turbidity and biovolume from satellite reflectance data is currently complicated by the lack of coincident in-situ and satellite data, and the limited number of spectral bands available to separate turbidity from different species of bacteria and algae. Title: Analysis of Landsat Satellite Data to Monitor Water Quality Parameters in Tenmile Lake, Oregon Author: Waxter, Michael T. Year: 2014 The health of North and South Tenmile Lakes in coastal Oregon has declined since the introduction of invasive species of fish and plant life in the 1920s. The lakes are now on the Federal Clean Water Act list of impaired water bodies due, in part, to a lack of dissolved oxygen and Hazardous Algae Blooms (HAB) blooms that occur during June through September. In this report we discuss the possibility of detecting and monitoring these blooms using satellite measurements of water surface color. In-situ measurements obtained from the Tenmile Lakes Basin Partnership were used to calibrate reflectance from the Thematic Mapper on the Landsat 5 satellite. Results show a good linear correlation between turbidity and radiance, which are inversely related in algal dominated lakes. Additionally, a correlation between biovolume and reflectance was obtained. Spatial patterns of turbidity and biovolume are observed, with large concentrations observed in lake areas with large residence times. The comparatively lowest concentrations are observed along the probable pathway of cleaner water input by creeks into the lake. However, the ability to predict turbidity and biovolume from satellite reflectance data is currently complicated by the lack of coincident in-situ and satellite data, and the limited number of spectral bands available to separate turbidity from different species of bacteria and algae. Close

• 59. [Article] Asymmetry of Tidal Plume Fronts in an Eastern Boundary Current Regime

  The Columbia River tidal plume or near-field is formed twice daily by the ebb outflow of the Columbia River. It is a part of a larger, anticyclonic plume bulge, which in turn is embedded in far-field plume ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Asymmetry of Tidal Plume Fronts in an Eastern Boundary Current Regime Author: Jay, David A., Pan, Jiayi, Orton, Philip M., Horner-Devine, Alexander R. Year: 2006 The Columbia River tidal plume or near-field is formed twice daily by the ebb outflow of the Columbia River. It is a part of a larger, anticyclonic plume bulge, which in turn is embedded in far-field plume and coastal waters. Because of the mixing caused directly and indirectly by plume fronts, the interaction of the tidal plume and bulge with the California Current upwelling regime plays a vital role in coastal productivity on the Oregon and Washington shelves. The tidal plume is initially supercritical with respect to the internal Froude number on all stronger ebbs. It is separated from the plume bulge by a front, whose properties are very different under upwelling vs. downwelling conditions. Under summer upwelling conditions, this front is sharp and narrow (only 50-100 m wide on its upwind or northern side) and marks a transition from supercritical to subcritical flow for 6-12 hours after high water. This sharp front is a source of turbulent mixing, despite the strong stratification. Because the tidal plume may overlie newly upwelled waters, these fronts can mix nutrients into the plume, enhancing primary productivity. Symmetry would suggest that there should be a sharp front south of the estuary mouth under summer downwelling conditions. Instead, the downwelling tidal plume front is usually broad (up to several km) and diffuse on the upstream side. Less mixing occurs, and the water immediately below the plume consists of old plume and surface ocean waters, both low in nutrients. There is also a second up-welling-downwelling asymmetry. Supercritical upwelling plume fronts often generate solitons trains as they slow and transition to a subcritical state. These soliton trains contribute to vertical mixing in the plume bulge and have a non-zero Stokes drift so that they transport low-salinity water across the tidal plume into the plume bulge. Under downwelling conditions, soliton forma-tion is uncommon. Moreover, solition formation almost always begins on the south side of the plume so that the front "unzips" from south to north. This implies that a frontal transition from supercritical to subcritical conditions first occurs on the south side tidal plume, regardless of whether this is the upwind or downwind side of the plume. This contribution describes and analyzes these two asymmetries using vessel data, SAR images and a vorticity analysis. Internal Froude number and plume depth are key parameters in distinguishing the upwelling and downwelling situations, and the observed asymmetries can be explained in terms of potential vorticity conservation. The tidal outflow embeds relative vorticity in the emerging tidal plume water mass. This vorticity controls the transition of the tidal plume front to a subcritical state and the timing and location of internal wave generation by plume fronts. Title: Asymmetry of Tidal Plume Fronts in an Eastern Boundary Current Regime Author: Jay, David A., Pan, Jiayi, Orton, Philip M., Horner-Devine, Alexander R. Year: 2006 The Columbia River tidal plume or near-field is formed twice daily by the ebb outflow of the Columbia River. It is a part of a larger, anticyclonic plume bulge, which in turn is embedded in far-field plume and coastal waters. Because of the mixing caused directly and indirectly by plume fronts, the interaction of the tidal plume and bulge with the California Current upwelling regime plays a vital role in coastal productivity on the Oregon and Washington shelves. The tidal plume is initially supercritical with respect to the internal Froude number on all stronger ebbs. It is separated from the plume bulge by a front, whose properties are very different under upwelling vs. downwelling conditions. Under summer upwelling conditions, this front is sharp and narrow (only 50-100 m wide on its upwind or northern side) and marks a transition from supercritical to subcritical flow for 6-12 hours after high water. This sharp front is a source of turbulent mixing, despite the strong stratification. Because the tidal plume may overlie newly upwelled waters, these fronts can mix nutrients into the plume, enhancing primary productivity. Symmetry would suggest that there should be a sharp front south of the estuary mouth under summer downwelling conditions. Instead, the downwelling tidal plume front is usually broad (up to several km) and diffuse on the upstream side. Less mixing occurs, and the water immediately below the plume consists of old plume and surface ocean waters, both low in nutrients. There is also a second up-welling-downwelling asymmetry. Supercritical upwelling plume fronts often generate solitons trains as they slow and transition to a subcritical state. These soliton trains contribute to vertical mixing in the plume bulge and have a non-zero Stokes drift so that they transport low-salinity water across the tidal plume into the plume bulge. Under downwelling conditions, soliton forma-tion is uncommon. Moreover, solition formation almost always begins on the south side of the plume so that the front "unzips" from south to north. This implies that a frontal transition from supercritical to subcritical conditions first occurs on the south side tidal plume, regardless of whether this is the upwind or downwind side of the plume. This contribution describes and analyzes these two asymmetries using vessel data, SAR images and a vorticity analysis. Internal Froude number and plume depth are key parameters in distinguishing the upwelling and downwelling situations, and the observed asymmetries can be explained in terms of potential vorticity conservation. The tidal outflow embeds relative vorticity in the emerging tidal plume water mass. This vorticity controls the transition of the tidal plume front to a subcritical state and the timing and location of internal wave generation by plume fronts. Close

• 60. [Article] On the Observability of Bottom Topography from Measurements of Tidal Sea Surface Height

  of whether features of the ocean bottom topography can be identified from measurements of water level is investigated using a simplified one-dimensional barotropic model. Because of the nonlinear dependence ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: On the Observability of Bottom Topography from Measurements of Tidal Sea Surface Height Author: Zaron, Edward D. Year: 2016 of whether features of the ocean bottom topography can be identified from measurements of water level is investigated using a simplified one-dimensional barotropic model. Because of the nonlinear dependence of the sea surface height on the water depth, a linearized analysis is performed concerning the identification of a Gaussian bump within two specific depth profiles, (1) a constant depth domain, and, (2) a constant depth domain adjoining a near-resonant continental shelf. Observability is quantified by examining the estimation error in a series of identical-twin experiments varying data density, tide wavelength, assumed (versus actual) topographic correlation scale, and friction. For measurements of sea surface height that resolve the scale of the topographic perturbation, the fractional error in the bottom topography is approximately a factor of 10 larger than the fractional error of the sea surface height. Domain-scale and shelf-scale resonances may lead to inaccurate topography estimates due to a reduction in the effective number of degrees of freedom in the dynamics, and the amplification of nonlinearity. A realizability condition for the variance of the topography error in the limit of zero bottom depth is proposed which is interpreted as a bound on the fractional error of the topography. Appropriately designed spatial covariance models partly ameliorate the negative impact of shelf-scale near-resonance, and highlight the importance of spatial covariance modeling for bottom topography estimation. Title: On the Observability of Bottom Topography from Measurements of Tidal Sea Surface Height Author: Zaron, Edward D. Year: 2016 of whether features of the ocean bottom topography can be identified from measurements of water level is investigated using a simplified one-dimensional barotropic model. Because of the nonlinear dependence of the sea surface height on the water depth, a linearized analysis is performed concerning the identification of a Gaussian bump within two specific depth profiles, (1) a constant depth domain, and, (2) a constant depth domain adjoining a near-resonant continental shelf. Observability is quantified by examining the estimation error in a series of identical-twin experiments varying data density, tide wavelength, assumed (versus actual) topographic correlation scale, and friction. For measurements of sea surface height that resolve the scale of the topographic perturbation, the fractional error in the bottom topography is approximately a factor of 10 larger than the fractional error of the sea surface height. Domain-scale and shelf-scale resonances may lead to inaccurate topography estimates due to a reduction in the effective number of degrees of freedom in the dynamics, and the amplification of nonlinearity. A realizability condition for the variance of the topography error in the limit of zero bottom depth is proposed which is interpreted as a bound on the fractional error of the topography. Appropriately designed spatial covariance models partly ameliorate the negative impact of shelf-scale near-resonance, and highlight the importance of spatial covariance modeling for bottom topography estimation. Close