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JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 108, NO. C11, 3340, doi:10.1029/2002JC001512, 2003

Modeling the residual circulation of a coastal embayment affected by wind-driven upwelling: Circulation of the Ría de Vigo (NW Spain)

C. Souto

Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Vigo, Vigo, Spain


M. Gilcoto

Instituto de Investigacións Mariñas, Vigo, Spain


L. Fariña-Busto

Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Vigo, Vigo, Spain


Fiz. F. Pérez

Instituto de Investigacións Mariñas, Vigo, Spain


Abstract

The barotropic and baroclinic nontidal circulations of the Ría de Vigo (NW Spain) are studied using the three-dimensional finite difference model HAMSOM (Hamburg Shelf Ocean Model). The external forcing acting on the system includes winds, freshwater inflow in the inner part of the ria and all over its surface, and heat exchange with the atmosphere. Modeled velocity is compared with data from an AANDERAA DCM12 acoustic Doppler current meter at one site of the ria, and predicted salinity and temperature fields contrasted with SEABIRD conductivity-temperature-depth data along the main channel of the ria. All predicted current, salinity, and temperature fields are in good agreement with experimental data. A new residual circulation pattern of the Ría de Vigo and its dependence on coastal winds is described. According to this pattern the typical estuarine two-layer circulation overlays in the outer part of the ria with a lateral circulation, resulting in a three-dimensional dynamics. The lateral circulation is induced by interaction between the southward (northward) alongshore coastal jet associated with upwelling (downwelling) winds and the topographic configuration of the ria.

Received 12 June 2002; accepted 23 July 2003; published 5 November 2003.

Index Terms: 4512 Oceanography: Physical: Currents; 4255 Oceanography: General: Numerical modeling; 4235 Oceanography: General: Estuarine processes; 4279 Oceanography: General: Upwelling and convergences; 4219 Oceanography: General: Continental shelf processes; 4536 Oceanography: Physical: Hydrography.

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Citation: Souto, C., M. Gilcoto, L. Fariña-Busto, and Fiz. F. Pérez (2003), Modeling the residual circulation of a coastal embayment affected by wind-driven upwelling: Circulation of the Ría de Vigo (NW Spain), J. Geophys. Res., 108(C11), 3340, doi:10.1029/2002JC001512.