Currents in Penobscot Bay, Maine

Author

Humphreys, Adrian C. ; Pearce, Bryan R.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Civil Eng., Univ. of Maine, Orono, ME, USA

fYear

1981

fDate

16-18 Sept. 1981

Firstpage

805

Lastpage

809

Abstract

A three-dimensional numerical model is applied to Penobscot Bay, a complicated estuarine system on Maine´s Atlantic coast. The estuary classification varies from stratified to well-mixed depending upon season and distance from the ocean. Bathymetry and topography are complex. Because an extensive data set exists for Penobscot Bay, testing and verification of the model is attempted here in spite of the bay´s physical complications. NOS/NOAA collected data for two consecutive summers (1969 and 1970) at over 100 stations using moored sets of current meters. Observation periods ranged from 3 days to 3 months. The model has been updated and run including the density gradients in the bay. Calculated currents are the same order as the residual currents measured in the bay or about 2 km/day.

Keywords

bathymetry; oceanographic regions; oceanographic techniques; 3D numerical model; Maine Atlantic coast; NOS/NOAA collected data; Penobscot Bay; current meters; density gradients; estuarine system; estuary classification; residual currents; Acceleration; Atmospheric modeling; Civil engineering; Environmentally friendly manufacturing techniques; Industrial economics; Industrial pollution; Navier-Stokes equations; Numerical models; Stress; Viscosity;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

OCEANS 81

Conference_Location

Boston, MA

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/OCEANS.1981.1151483

Filename

1151483