Circulation studies are fundamental to interdisciplinary research seeking to unravel the linkages between the flow, particles, bacteria, higher organisms, and chemical processes. They are also vital to understanding anthropogenic influences on these ecosystems. I seek to make vital measurements, to derive new theoretical models necessary to understanding circulation and transport processes, and develop conceptual tools to allow classification and inter-comparison of estuaries. Most of my research is inter-disciplinary and collaborative. The strong outflow at the surface and mean shear are part of a very high energy environment that structures the entire ecosystem.
Flows are much stronger on spring tides and during periods of strong river flow.
Thanks to Jeff Musiak for the model calculations and map. Abstracts Estuarine Classification Estuaries are more diverse than any other marine environment. Scientists and managers presently face a range of issues associated with global alteration of estuarine systems without a thorough understanding of how such changes affect either estuaries or the larger coastal and global oceans to which they are connected. Fluid mechanics and geomorphology can be connected through description of forcing variables for sediment movement in estuaries in terms of hydrodynamic parameters. See also sediment transport below.