ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the principles underlying the transport of dissolved conservative substances in shallow estuaries. The major elements responsible for the flux or transport of dissolved constituents are tide-and wind-induced currents, and vertical mixing. Tides and tidal currents are generated by the combined action of the attractive forces of primarily the moon and the rotation of the earth-moon system about their common center of gravity. Wind-driven currents are forced by the wind stress acting on the water surface. Vertical mixing is associated with turbulence. In shallow waters turbulence is primarily a result of bottom friction. The turbulence results in an exchange of mass and thus of constituent. Dye released near the bottom is mixed upward, and similarly, dye released near the surface is mixed downward.
