1. Typical Estuarine Circulation
Momentum
Energy
Speed of
Wave
H = depth of upper layer

2. Observed velocity of the nose = 30 km in 20 h = 0.4 m/s
Theoretical = [ 2 g’ H ]0.5
g’ = g (density upper - density lower)/(reference density)
g’ = 10 (4)/1000 = 0.04 m/s2
H = 10 m
Theoretical = [ 0.8 ]0.5 = 0.9 m/s
In this example, the flow is subcritical with respect to the
internal gravity current speed

5. Mean density anomaly
Mean principal-axis flow

8. Mean Flow at Meninea

11. Salinity
Temperature °C
Density Anomaly (kg/m3)

14. Seno Ballena Strait of Magellan
Antarctic expeditions leaving through the Strait of Magellan sail by this fjord
So the fjord is off Magellan Strait
Seno Ballena

16. Mean Flow at mooring site
sill’s depth
Mean Flow at mooring site
The mean flow shows the narrowness of the upper layer
One can see that on the mean the landward flux of salt will be blocked by the sill because of its depth
The distinct features between upper and lower layers help explore the spatial variability in the fjord…