Formula Used:
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River or Freshwater Inflow to a Bay is the water that is less saline than marine water. It represents the volume of freshwater entering a bay from rivers and other sources, which affects the bay's salinity, ecosystem, and water circulation patterns.
The calculator uses King's formula:
Where:
Explanation: This formula calculates freshwater inflow to a bay by considering tidal characteristics and the bay's physical properties through King's dimensionless variable.
Details: Accurate calculation of freshwater inflow is crucial for understanding estuarine dynamics, managing water resources, predicting salinity changes, and maintaining healthy aquatic ecosystems in bay environments.
Tips: Enter King's dimensionless variable, ocean tide amplitude in meters, surface area of bay in square meters, and tidal period in seconds. All values must be positive numbers.
Q1: What is King's Dimensionless Variable for Freshwater?
A: King's Dimensionless Variable is a metric used in fluid dynamics to characterize flow patterns in freshwater environments succinctly, typically derived from empirical studies or specific hydrodynamic models.
Q2: How does tidal amplitude affect freshwater inflow?
A: Greater tidal amplitudes generally enhance mixing and circulation patterns, which can influence how freshwater spreads and mixes within the bay system.
Q3: Why is surface area of the bay important?
A: The surface area determines the spatial extent over which freshwater mixes with seawater and affects the overall dilution and distribution patterns.
Q4: What is the typical range for tidal periods?
A: Tidal periods typically range from about 12 hours (semi-diurnal tides) to 24 hours (diurnal tides), though specific values vary by location.
Q5: Are there limitations to this formula?
A: This approach assumes certain idealized conditions and may need adjustment for complex bay geometries, varying freshwater sources, or unusual tidal patterns.