The effects of the Agnes flood on the salinity structure of the lower Chesapeake Bay and contiguous waters

Authors

A. Y. Kuo
E. P. Ruzecki
C. S. Fang

Files

Document Type

Book Chapter

Department/Program

Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Publication Date

1976

Role

Project Coordinator, Jackson Davis (VIMS) | Volume Coordinator, Beverly Laird (VIMS)

Book Title

The effects of tropical storm Agnes on the Chesapeake Bay estuarine system

Publisher

Chesapeake Research Consortium

Volume

Chesapeake Research Consortium publication ; no. 54

Abstract

The transient response of salinity distribution in lower Chesapeake Bay to flood waters from Tropical Storm Agnes is studied in terms of a two-layered, partially mixed estuary. Prior to 30 June 1972, surface salinities were well depressed throughout the Bay while those at the bottom near the Bay mouth were not depressed by 5 July. This resulted in a highly stratified situation normally found in the spring of the year. Stratification decreased when bottom waters were flushed down-bay by the flood (on 5 to 10 July for the region south of New Point Comfort). The "rebound" of salinity structure started immediately after the passage of the flood water which otherwise retarded up-bay movement of bottom waters. This "rebound" began on 13 July near the Bay mouth and progressed up-bay reaching the mouth of the Potomac River by 20 July. During this period, surface salinity remained low, resulting in strong stratification again. The recovery of surface salinity by tidal mixing finally weakened stratification to a near "normal" salinity structure by the end of August. The large mass of flood water leaving the Bay mouth is treated as a natural tracer release. The distribution of flood water on the continental shelf indicates that pulses of freshened surface water left the Bay on ebb tide and were separated from one another by intrusion of saltier shelf water on flood tide. During the period when the wind speed was below 4 m/s, the flood water remained in the upper 10 meters of the water column and traveled southward with a speed of 80 cm/sec.

Recommended Citation

Kuo, A. Y.; Ruzecki, E. P.; and Fang, C. S., "The effects of the Agnes flood on the salinity structure of the lower Chesapeake Bay and contiguous waters" (1976). VIMS Books and Book Chapters. 51.
https://scholarworks.wm.edu/vimsbooks/51