Example: Maximum Decrease of Salinity in the Ems Estuary

The figure shows maximum decrease of salinity for a vertical section along the cross profile Ostfriesisches Gatje Nord (in the area of the Außenems). The vertical is superelevated by a factor of 200. The period of data analysis is two days.

Maximum decrease of salinity occurs in the right part of the deep channel and especially above the shallow areas immediately adjacent to the channel. The latter effect is mainly due to the outflow of fresh water from the estuary. This kind of spatial variation is therefore to some extent different compared with the variation of maximum increase of salinity. Rates for maximum decrease of salinity can exceed 5 PSU per hour.

Decrease of salinity is caused by the same processes which are also responsible for the maximum increase of salinity (see explanations there).

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back to Characteristic Numbers of Salinity (independent of tides)