Circulation pattern in a meandering tidal channel, Bahia Blanca Estuary, Argentina

PERILLO, G.M.E.; ALVAREZ, L.I.; VITALE, A.J.; CIPOLLETTI, M.P.; LOPEZ GREGORI, M.; ALBERDI, E.D.

PUERTO MADRYN

Conferencia; 9th International Conference on Tidal Sedimentology. Tidalites 2015; 2015

ASOCIACION ARGENTINA DE SEDIMENTOLOGIA

The inner portion of the Bahía Blanca Estuary (Figure 1) coincides with the final reach of the Canal Principal where the tidal wave tends to converge and it is most evident the hypersincronizity of the estuary. The tidal range in this area reaches up to 4 m in scizigy whereas at the mouth of the estuary, more than 70 km from the study area, tidal range is of the order of 2.2 m. The study area is also one of the most strategic sectors in the estuarial ecosystem since it is where the trophic chain of the estuary starts due to winter phytoplankton (Guinder et al., 2009). Consequently, the main aim of the study is to define the circulation pattern of the tidal currents during the same period of the year. Calm or very low wind velocities and scarce precipitation characterize this season.