Print Email Facebook Twitter The Evolution of Plume Fronts in the Rhine Region of Freshwater Influence Title The Evolution of Plume Fronts in the Rhine Region of Freshwater Influence Author Rijnsburger, S. (TU Delft Environmental Fluid Mechanics) Flores, Raúl P. (University of Washington; Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María) Pietrzak, J.D. (TU Delft Environmental Fluid Mechanics) Horner-Devine, Alexander R. (University of Washington) Souza, Alejandro J. (CINVESTAV Unidad Merida) Zijl, Firmijn (Deltares) Date 2021 Abstract The Rhine region of freshwater influence (ROFI) is strongly stratified, rotational, relatively shallow and has large tides, resulting in a dynamic field of fronts that are formed by multiple processes. We use a 3D numerical model to obtain a conceptual picture of the frontal structure and the processes responsible for generating this multiple front structure in the Rhine ROFI. The horizontal salinity gradient and numerical tracers are used to identify three different types of fronts: outer, inner, tidal plume and relic tidal plume fronts. Tidal plume front (TPF) trajectories together with the tracers demonstrate that TPFs exist for longer than one tidal cycle. A Lagrangian frontogenesis analysis shows that the fronts are strengthened mainly as a result of increased convergence, which is observed to occur at times when tidal straining is large. Additionally the alongshore tidal excursion and the dominance of the tidal currents over the intrinsic frontal propagation speed, trap TPFs within 20 km from the river mouth. Trapping and re-strengthening maintain several fronts at a time in the mid-field region, resulting in a multi-frontal system. The observation of a complex river plume system is expected to be important for cross-shore exchange, transport and coastal ecology. Subject advectionnumerical modelriver plumestrainingtidal plume fronts To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:d677c0c7-a826-44b6-b27c-0024d904f67e DOI https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JC015927 ISSN 2169-9275 Source Journal Of Geophysical Research-Oceans, 126 (7), 1-28 Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2021 S. Rijnsburger, Raúl P. Flores, J.D. Pietrzak, Alexander R. Horner-Devine, Alejandro J. Souza, Firmijn Zijl Files PDF 2019JC015927.pdf 4.89 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:d677c0c7-a826-44b6-b27c-0024d904f67e/datastream/OBJ/view