Non-dimensional Intrusion Or Salt Wedge Length Calculator

Formula Used:

\[ Non-dimensional Intrusion or Salt Wedge Length = \frac{Quadratic Drag Coefficient \times Intrusion Length}{Shoreline Depth} \] \[ L^* = \frac{C_i \times L}{h_s} \]

Non-dimensional Intrusion or Salt Wedge Length (L*):

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1. What is Non-dimensional Intrusion or Salt Wedge Length?

Non-dimensional Intrusion or Salt Wedge Length represents the intrusion of sea water into a tidal estuary in the form of a wedge along the bed of the estuary. It is a dimensionless parameter that characterizes the extent of saltwater intrusion in coastal environments.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

\[ L^* = \frac{C_i \times L}{h_s} \]

Where:

\( L^* \) — Non-dimensional Intrusion or Salt Wedge Length (dimensionless)
\( C_i \) — Quadratic Drag Coefficient (dimensionless)
\( L \) — Intrusion Length (meters)
\( h_s \) — Shoreline Depth (meters)

Explanation: This formula calculates the non-dimensional length of salt wedge intrusion based on the quadratic drag coefficient, intrusion length, and shoreline depth.

3. Importance of Non-dimensional Intrusion Length Calculation

Details: Calculating non-dimensional intrusion length is crucial for understanding saltwater intrusion patterns in estuaries, predicting environmental impacts, and designing coastal management strategies.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the quadratic drag coefficient (dimensionless), intrusion length in meters, and shoreline depth in meters. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a salt wedge in coastal hydrology?
A: A salt wedge is the intrusion of denser saltwater beneath freshwater in an estuary, forming a wedge-shaped interface that moves with tidal cycles.

Q2: What factors influence the quadratic drag coefficient?
A: The quadratic drag coefficient depends on bottom roughness, flow characteristics, and whether upper- or lower-layer density is used in the calculation.

Q3: How does river flow affect intrusion length?
A: Intrusion length depends essentially on two parameters: river flow velocity and water depth. Higher river flows typically reduce saltwater intrusion.

Q4: What is shoreline depth in this context?
A: Shoreline depth refers to the water depth where the channel intersects the coastal shoreline, which is a critical parameter for salt wedge calculations.

Q5: What are typical values for non-dimensional intrusion length?
A: Values vary widely depending on specific estuary conditions, but typically range from 0.1 to 10 or more, depending on the balance between freshwater outflow and tidal forcing.