| Abstract: | ABSTRACT: Long‐term freshwater transport is an important factor affecting estuarine aquatic ecosystems. In this study, a primitive equation, prognostic, three‐dimensional, hydrodynamic model was applied to Apalachicola Bay, Florida, for the summer and fall seasons of 1993. In response to the river freshwater discharge, tide, and wind forces, the model simulations were used to characterize the long‐term freshwater transport processes in the bay. Analysis of spatial distributions of seasonal average salinity and currents shows that the long‐term freshwater transport was strongly affected by the forcing functions of wind and density gradient in the bay. Average freshwater input was approximately the same in the summer and fall seasons of 1993. However, in the summer season, more freshwater moved to the east direction due to the predominant wind from the west, while in the fall season more freshwater moved to the west in response to the wind primarily from the east. The water column was strongly stratified near the river mouth, and it gradually changed to well mixing near the ocean boundaries. Vertical stratification in the bay changed due to wind‐induced mixing and mass transport. Due to the density gradient effect, surface residual currents carrying fresher water were in the direction from the river toward the Gulf, while the bottom residual currents with saltier water entered the bay from the Gulf of Mexico. |
