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536905 
Journal Article 
Wind impact on pollutant transport in a shallow estuary 
Xu, HZ; Lin, J; Shen, J; Wang, DX 
2008 
27 
3 
147-160 
English 
A three-dimensional numerical model, EFDC (environmental fluid dynamics code) is applied to the Pamlico River Estuary (PRE) in eastern North Carolina of the United States to examine the wind impact on pollutant age distributions and residence time. A series of model experiments, representing base case, remote-wind-induced water level set-up and local winds cases are conducted. Model results indicate that the pollutant mean age and the system residence time are function,; of gravitational circulation in the PRE. The system responses to remote-wind-induced water level set-up arc different in different portions of the PRE. Under such condition, dissolved substances ill file upstream portion of the PRE have a younger age and shorter residence time (compared with the base case), by contrast, they have a older age and longer residence time in the downstream portion of the PRE. Upriver and downriver local winds appear to have opposite impacts on pollutant age distributions. The substances are retained much longer within the PRE under upriver wind than those under downriver wind. The model results also suggest that across - river winds may lead to longer residence time through enhanced turbulence Mixing, which slows down the gravitational circulation in the PRE. 
Pamlico River Estuary (PRE); mean age; residence time; gravitational; circulation; salt intrusion; pamlico river estuary; residence time; age; stratification; nutrients; scales; water; bay