A numerical study of the ex-ROFI of the Colorado River
In: Journal of Marine Systems. Elsevier: Tokyo; Oxford; New York; Amsterdam. ISSN 0924-7963; e-ISSN 1879-1573, more
Also appears in:Ruddick, K. (1997). Processes in regions of freshwater influence (PROFILE): selected papers from the 27th International Liège Colloquium on Ocean Hydrodynamics, held in Liège, Belgium, on May 8-12, 1995. Journal of Marine Systems, 12(1-4). Elsevier: The Netherlands. 1-326 pp., more
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Keywords |
Freshwaters Motion > Water motion > Water currents > Tidal currents Numerical models Satellite imagery Marine/Coastal; Fresh water |
Authors | | Top |
- Carbajal, N.
- Souza, A.
- Durazo, R.
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Abstract |
The freshwater discharge of the Colorado River into the Gulf of California has been reduced to negligible quantities since the construction of the Hoover Dam in 1935. These radical anthropogenic changes in the hydrography of the Colorado River Delta had striking repercussions on both physical and biological processes. Using historical river discharge data, the changes in the flow dynamics and hydrographic patterns before and after the drastic freshwater reduction are studied numerically, using a three-dimensional nonlinear shelf model. The results are applied to assess the environmental impact of the reduction of river discharge on the area. Satellite imagery is also used to compare our results with observed fronts. |
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