The Bahía Blanca Estuary: an integrated overview of its geomorphology and dynamics

PICCOLO, M.C., PERILLO, G.M.E. Y MELO, W.D.,

Perspectives on integrated coastal zone management in South America

IST Press

Lugar: Lisboa; Año: 2008; p. 221 - 231

The estuarine dynamics is dependent on the geomorphology, freshwater input, tides and meteorological conditions predominant over the system (Perillo 1995a.b.). Based on the geomorphologic features, tidal propagation into the estuary strongly modified and can produce variations on the tidal range along the channel and the resulting tidal currents and residual transport of salt, sediment, nutrients and contaminants. The large intertidal areas of the Bahía Blanca estuary play a major role on the physical process that are observed in this environment. On the other hand, these same morphologic features make the stand measurements methodologies to be inadequate to control the whole system. The objective this chapter is to provide a general and integrated description of the morphology and physical oceanography of the Bahia Blanca Estuary as a basis for understanding the biogeochemical and modeling efforts presented in other chapters of this book. This article will bassed on previous review made by Perillo and Píccolo (1999), Perillo et al. (200,204, Cuadrado et al (2004) and data gathered since then.