122
a
17.12.86
0
1 km
. /
o Tidal recorder '===~-- N /
Stations
M. Cintia Piccolo· Gerardo M.E. Perillo
b
23
21 21 20 19 1817 16 14
11
8
5
2
~ ll2:~~:;'~:i"~""''''~'TrrTrn'''''~7n'TTm'~'
Stations
c
0
23
21 21 20 19 1817 16 14
11
8
5
2
:g
' " 2
3
Fig. 6.12. Temperature and salinity profiles along the Chubut River Estuary, a location of the stations
and distribution of the surface isohalines, b longitudinal profile of temperature, c longitudinal profiles of salinity (modified from Piccolo and Perillo 1997b)
ness. On the contrary, a station located in the inner estuary showed vertically homogeneous conditions with typical salinity values of fresh water.
Lateral salinity gradients are the result of the general morphology of the estuary.
The presence of meanders and interchannel bars originate a secondary circulation
driving fresh water near the surface towards the right margin and concentrating the
saltier water on the left bank. On the other hand, wind effect is a major component of
the circulation and mixing of this shallow estuary (Perillo et al. 1989). The longitudinal
distribution of temperature and salinity shows a saline wedge. In the frontal zone the
longitudinal gradients are l.4 x 10-3 0 C m- I and 4.5 psu m- I in temperature and salinity respectively. Salinities at the mouth of the estuary vary between 31.8 and 33.9 psu
with almost no vertical stratification.
6.5
Estuaries of Southern Patagonia
From the Chubut River Estuary and along the 750 km of the Patagonian coast there
are no other watercourse till the Deseado River Estuary in the Santa Cruz province
(Fig. 6.1). The Santa Cruz coast have four rias, being the most important ones in Ar-
a
17.12.86
0
1 km
. /
o Tidal recorder '===~-- N /
Stations
M. Cintia Piccolo· Gerardo M.E. Perillo
b
23
21 21 20 19 1817 16 14
11
8
5
2
~ ll2:~~:;'~:i"~""''''~'TrrTrn'''''~7n'TTm'~'
Stations
c
0
23
21 21 20 19 1817 16 14
11
8
5
2
:g
' " 2
3
Fig. 6.12. Temperature and salinity profiles along the Chubut River Estuary, a location of the stations
and distribution of the surface isohalines, b longitudinal profile of temperature, c longitudinal profiles of salinity (modified from Piccolo and Perillo 1997b)
ness. On the contrary, a station located in the inner estuary showed vertically homogeneous conditions with typical salinity values of fresh water.
Lateral salinity gradients are the result of the general morphology of the estuary.
The presence of meanders and interchannel bars originate a secondary circulation
driving fresh water near the surface towards the right margin and concentrating the
saltier water on the left bank. On the other hand, wind effect is a major component of
the circulation and mixing of this shallow estuary (Perillo et al. 1989). The longitudinal
distribution of temperature and salinity shows a saline wedge. In the frontal zone the
longitudinal gradients are l.4 x 10-3 0 C m- I and 4.5 psu m- I in temperature and salinity respectively. Salinities at the mouth of the estuary vary between 31.8 and 33.9 psu
with almost no vertical stratification.
6.5
Estuaries of Southern Patagonia
From the Chubut River Estuary and along the 750 km of the Patagonian coast there
are no other watercourse till the Deseado River Estuary in the Santa Cruz province
(Fig. 6.1). The Santa Cruz coast have four rias, being the most important ones in Ar-