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GLERL What's New: 1999
Great Lakes Environmental Research
Laboratory
Distinguished Scientist Seminar Series
Dr. Alan F. Blumberg
"Circulation and Mixing in Green Bay"
ablumberg@hydroqual.com
Location: Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory
2205 Commonwealth Blvd.
Ann Arbor, MI 48105-2945
Date: Wednesday, May 19th, 1999
Time: 10:00 am
Room: 105 (Main Conference Room)
ABSTRACT: The physical processes responsible for the circulation and mixing within Green Bay are examined and quantified through the use of a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model, a high resolution grid and reliable forcing function data sets. The model itself is based on the Princeton Ocean Model. The circulation characteristics of the bay are revealed through the use of volume flux determinations at key cross sections and a dye release simulation. An animation of the dye release is used to more fully convey the true complexity of this bay. The Green Bay model is structured with a 2 km grid with 10 vertical segments. Water level and temperature boundary conditions at the critically important Green Bay - Lake Michigan confluence are obtained from a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model of Lake Michigan. The Green Bay model includes inflows from five rivers, including the Fox River. The river discharges, and their temperature and chloride concentration are specified on a daily basis. And finally, surface wind stresses and heat fluxes were used as part of the model forcing functions.
The model was run for a period of 576 days, from November 1, 1988 to May 31, 1990. Model calibration consisted of comparisons of several kinds of data. First were temporal variations of water level and surface temperature at five selected locations in Green Bay. Results from the Lake Michigan model were used as "data". Agreement between the two models is good. Plots of the daily mean mass flux through a mid-bay cross section at Chambers Island share some of the features found in the literature. Another level of calibration was achieved by including chloride as a model parameter. The measured and simulated chloride concentration compared reasonably well at all stations. Both the model results and measurements show a plume of chloride originating from the Fox River and its propagation towards the central bay along its eastern side.
For further information, please contact:
Michael J. McCormick
NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory
2205 Commonwealth Blvd.
Ann Arbor, MI 48105-2945
734-741-2277
michael.mccormick@noaa.gov
Last updated: September 19, 2002 mbl