Journal of Marine Science: Research & Development
Open Access

Abstract

The plume structure is considered on the basis of simulations with a primitive equations model. In this scope, an s-coordinate numerical model for the South-Eastern Adriatic Coast was configured to examine the dynamical properties under the winter wind, river, tidal, and atmospheric pressure forcing. The complex picture of the circulation is conjectured to be a balance between conventional forcing (tides, atmosphere and buoyancy) and the hitherto unknown effect of plumes as surface signatures of small scales instabilities in the sea regions of strong horizontal convergence. An important driving force in the coastal area is due to freshwater discharge. Implemented in the model is a procedure of modelling river runoff. Modelling of a freshwater source (i.e. a river) is done by adjusting the boundary conditions at the position of the source into the model domain. Instabilities of the geophysical fluids are revealed in a coastal area with strong gradients of the water density. The region is within the quadrant where latitude varies from 40.5 N to 41.5 N and longitude varies from 19.3 E to 19.55 E. Spiralling short wave instabilities can be studied and knowledge of how are generated spiral eddies can be improved. Owing to the effects of spiral eddies a deformation of the plume structure can occur. The role of spiral eddies can be dominant and can not be neglected in reality because it results in strong horizontal mixing which retards the moving speed and destroys the leading edge of the plumes.

Biography

Monika Burba has completed her PhD last year from Polytechnic University of Tirana and is pursuing Postdoctoral studies from Faculty of Geology and Mining. She has published 12 papers in national and international journals.