Circulation in the Bays is driven by winds, tides, and river flow as well as flow in the adjacent Gulf of Maine. Current speed and direction varies over distances of several hundred meters in Boston Harbor and over several kilometers in the Bays. Direct oceanographic measurements provide essential information about the currents in the Bays. However, field measurements cannot adequately resolve these complex circulation patterns and they represent conditions that existed only at the time the measurements were made. Numerical models can help bridge this gap by providing more complete spatial coverage, synthesizing the information from the measurements, and allowing different scenarios to be tested.
Geologic studies are essential for understanding contamination of sediments in coastal regions.
The multidisciplinary geologic study of the Massachusetts Bays conducted by the USGS develops techniques that quantify and predict processes of sediment transport and contamination accumulation. These methods can be applied to other coastal areas of the United States. A long-term goal for the USGS is to develop a predictive capability for sediment transport and contaminant accumulation in a variety of coastal environments. Computer simulation of tidal current speed in Massachusetts and Cape Cod Bays. Tidal currents are strongest at the mouth of Boston Harbor and in the channel north of Cape Cod.