VI-140 



SECTinN 7. PHYSICS AND MATHEMATICS 



The specific kinds of research that must be done within the physical 

 and mathematical aspects of estuarine mananement fall oenerally into 

 the broad cateaories of hydraulics, sedimentation, physical modi- 

 fication and structures, and physical and mathematical modeling. 



HYDRAULICS 

 Scope 



The briefest statement of what is needed in hydraulics is an 

 understandinq of the water dynamics of the estuary, includinq 

 details of tidal and current reoimes, an evaluation of the 

 effects of river flow, rates of water exchanoe, characteristics of 

 flushinn, and all of the other phenomena related to the nature and 

 behavior of the fluid portion of the estuarine zone. 



Flow Characteristics 



A starting point in understanding the hydraulics of an estuarine 

 system would be an analysis of macroscopic ^low and circulatory 

 patterns includino seasonal discharges from rivers, seasonal 

 temperature input? from rivers, density aspects (completely mixed 

 versus stratified estuaries), tidal cvcles, effects of v/ind stress, 

 effects of upstream reservoir manaoement, of flow nuantity and 

 gualitv, measurements of direction and maonitude o"^ water masses, 

 and of velocity relationships. 



