Flash animations created by:
Zachary Schlag
Model visualizations created by:
Elizabeth North
Model predictions from the ETM model created by:
Elizabeth North, Shenn-Yu Chao, Raleigh Hood, and Larry Sanford
Model development funded by:
National Science Foundation
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These are animations of output from a numerical circulation model (a computer program) that simulates current velocity, salinity (salt), and sediment concentrations in an estuarine turbidity maximum (ETM). ETMs are regions where water is highly turbid (very cloudy). They are often found at the head of estuaries near the salt front where salt water from the ocean meets fresh water from the river. These animations show the movement of the salt front (line contours) and the resuspension and deposition of sediment (color contours) as the salt front moves with the tides. River inflow and suspended sediment enter the model at the up-estuary boundary (i.e., the left side). You can change the amount of river flow and the strength of the wind and see what happens to the salt front and ETM.
Animations of Striped Bass Egg Transport
These are animation of the ETM model with particles that simulate striped bass eggs. You can change the density of the eggs as well as the strength of the river flow and wind and see what happens to the transport of eggs. Wind events start on day 352.
References
These animations are based on research presented in the following articles:
North, E. W., S.-Y. Chao, L. P. Sanford, and R. R. Hood. 2004. The influence of wind and river pulses on an estuarine turbidity maximum: numerical studies and field observations. Estuaries 27(1): 132-146.
North, E. W., R. R. Hood, S.-Y. Chao, and L. P. Sanford. 2005. The influence of episodic events on transport of striped bass eggs to an estuarine nursery area. Estuaries 28(1): 106-121.
A link to a .pdf of North et al. (2005) can be found here.
