Abstract
A bay in the republic of Korea has experienced significant reclamation and dredging works. Along with such artificial geomorphologic changes, a dam was built in the upstream river, which reduced the discharge of freshwater into the bay. Human induced changes in the coastal shape and freshwater supply have caused significant changes in the river environments, such as strong stratification, bottom salty water intrusion and oceanization downstream, etc. The present work investigated how such geomorphologic and hydrologic changes control the mixing and circulation in the bay and river using numerical modeling. The theoretical length of salt wedge has a relationship with the location, with 16 psu salinity observed as being ecologically important in that area. Coastline change can modified the estuarine circulation within bay but did not stronger effect on the salt wedge than other factors. The change of the interfacial shear can strengthen/weaken the salt wedge due to the discharge variation. Deepening the river channel can strengthen the stratification at the river mouth and elongates the salt wedge to river upstream. A rise in the sea level also enhances stratification and salt wedge.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Carbajal, N., Souza, A., and Durazo, R. (1997). “A numerical study of the ex-ROFI of the Colorado River.” Journal of Marine Systems, Vol. 12, Nos. 1–4, pp. 17–33.
Ceon, I. K. and Kim, M. H. (2009). “The prediction and Analysis of bed changes characteristics in the Seomjin river Downstream.” Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation, Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 115–121.
Chen, C., Liu, H., and Beardsley, R.C. (2003). “An unstructured grid, finite-volume coastal ocean model: Application to coastal ocean and estuaries.” Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, Vol. 20, No. 1, pp. 159–186.
Choo, H. S. (2002). “Numerical experiments for the changes of currents by reclamation of land in Kwan yang bay.” Journal of the Environmental Sciences, Vol. 11, No. 7, pp. 637–650.
D’Adamo, N. and Lukatelich, R. (1985). “Water quality of the Murray River Estuary: Summary report.” Report to the Waterways Commission Western Australia, No. 6, pp. 85–114.
Han River Flood Control Office (2008). Water supply outlook, Jan, 2008, Ministry of Construction and Transportation.
Huang, H., Chen, C., Blanton, J. O., and Andrade, F. A. (2008). “A numerical study of tidal asymmetry in Okatee Creek, South Carolina.” Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Vol. 78, No. 1, pp. 190–202.
Kasai, A., Kurikawa, Y., Ueno, M., Robert, D., and Yamashita, Y. (2010). “Salt-wedge intrusion of seawater and its implication for phytoplankton dynamics in the Yura Estuary, Japan.” Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Vol. 86, No. 3, pp. 408–414.
Kim, H. Y. (2008). A study on the tidal characteristics of Saemangeum Coastal Waters using FVCOM model, Master’s Thesis, Department of Ocean Sceience and Engineering, Kunsan National Univerisity, Korea.
Kuo, A. Y. and Neilson, B. J. (1987). “Hypoxia and salinity in Virginia estuaries.” Estuarines and Coasts, Vol. 10, No. 4, pp. 277–283.
Kurup, G. R., Hamilton, D. P., and Patterson, J. C. (1998). “Modelling effect of seasonal flow variations on the position of salt wedge in a microtidal estuary.” Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Vol. 47, No. 2, pp. 191–208.
Kwon, K. Y., Moon, C. H., Lee, J. S., and Yang, S. R. (2004). “Estuarine behavior and flux of nutrients in the Seomjin river estuary.” Journal of the Korea Society of Oceanography Vol. 9, No. 4, pp. 153–163.
Lee Y. K. and Lee, H. S. (2004). “Numerical modeling of seawater intrusion in coastal aquifer.” Journal of Korean Society for Rock Mechanics, Vol. 14, No. 3, pp. 229–240.
Mellor, G. L. and Yamada, T. (1982). “Development of a turbulence closure model for geophysical fluid problems.” Review of Geophysics and Space Physics, Vol. 20, No. 4, pp. 851–875.
Sargent, F. E. and Jirka, G. H. (1987). “Experiments on Saline wedge.” Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, Vol. 113, No. 10, pp. 1307–1323.
Schiif, J. B. and Schonfeld, J. C. (1953). “Theoretical considerations on the motion on salt and fresh water.” Proceedings: Minnesota International Hydraulic Convention. Section: Density Currents, pp. 321–333.
Shaha, D. C. and Cho, Y. K. (2009). “Comparison of empirical models with intensively observed data for prediction of salt intrusion in the Sumjin River estuary, Korea.” Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, Vol. 13, No. 6, pp. 923–933.
Shaha, D. C., Cho, Y. K., Seo, G. H., Kim, C. S., and Jung, K. T. (2010). “Using flushing rate to investigate spring-neap and spatial variations of gravitational circulation and tidal exchanges in an estuary.” Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, Vol. 14, No. 8, pp. 1465–1476.
Simpson, J. H. (1997). “Physical processes in the ROFI regime.” Journal of Marine Systems, Vol. 12, Nos. 1–4, pp. 3–15.
Yang, Z. and Khangaonkar, T. (2009). “Modeling tidal circulation and stratification in Skagit River estuary using an unstructured grid ocean model.” Ocean Modelling, Vol. 28, Nos. 1–3, pp. 34–49.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jang, D., Hwang, J.H., Park, YG. et al. A study on salt wedge and River Plume in the Seom-Jin River and estuary. KSCE J Civ Eng 16, 676–688 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-012-1521-9
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-012-1521-9