Contents
XI
6
6.1
6.2
6·3
The Argentina Estuaries: A Review ............. . ............................ .
Introduction ......................................................................... .
Rio de la Plata Estuary '"
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. ...................... .
Estuaries of the Buenos Aires Province
Between Samboromb6n Bay and Bahia Blanca. . .
. ..................... .
6.3.1 Mar Chiquita Coastal Lagoon ...
. ................................ .
6.3.2 Quequen Grande Estuary ........
. ......................... .
6.3.3 Bahia Blanca Estuary ..................................... .
Estuaries of the Patagonia ............................................ .
641 Colorado River Estuary ...................................................... .
6.4.2 Negro River Estuary.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . ............................ .
643 Chubut River Estuary ................
. ..................... .
101
101
104
6.5 Estuaries of Southern Patagonia .................... .
107
108
111
113
116
117
119
121
122
124
127
127
129
6.5.1 Rio Gallegos Estuary .................................. .
6.6 Tierra del Fuego Estuaries ............................................... .
6.6.1 San Sebastian Bay.
. .......... " ....... .
Summary .................................. .
Acknowledgements ..................... .
. ...... 129
References ................................. . .............................. .
129
7
Hydrography and Sediment Transport Characteristics
ofthe Rio de la Plata: A Review... .............. ......
133
7.1 Introduction.......................................................
133
7-2 Regional Setting........................ ...............
134
7.2.1 Drainage Basin ......................................................
134
7.2.2 Tributary River Discharge................... .. . . . . .. . .. . . . . .
136
7.2.3 Meteorology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
136
7.3 Hydrographic Characteristics ................
..................
137
7.3.1 Morphology..............................
............
137
7.3.2 Surficial Bottom Sediments ........... .........................
139
7.3.3 Tides and Tidal Currents.............. .................
.............
141
7.3-4 Salinity.........................................
. ................... 144
7.3.5 Suspended Sediments..............................................
150
7.4 Synthesis....................................................................
154
Acknowledgements ...........
. . . . . . . . . .. .........................
156
References........................................ ...........................
157
8
Physical Characteristics and Processes of the Rio de la Plata Estuary. 161
8.1 Introduction.............................
. ................................ 161
8.2 Rio de la Plata Environment
8.2.1 Physiographic Setting ....... .
8.2.2 Climatology ................... .
8.2.3 River Input .................. .
8.3 Tides and Tidal Currents ............... .
8.3.1 Tides in the Estuary ............. .
8.3.2 Tidal Currents ...... .
8.3.3 Storm Surges ............................ .
161
161
163
164
164
164
166
168