Title: Numerical and Field Study of Tidal and Subtidal Dynamics in a Bar-Built Estuary: Barataria Bay, Gulf of Mexico
Abstract: This study investigated tidal and subtidal dynamics of water level, currents, and suspended sediment concentration (SSC) in Barataria Bay, a shallow bar-built estuary of the Northern Gulf of Mexico. First, the local and remote wind forcing contribution on subtidal water level and current variability were examined using three different methods: (i) statistical analysis of observed data, (ii) an analytical model and (iii) a 2-D barotropic numerical model. Results suggested that the remote and local wind effects were equally important at the bay mouth, however local winds were the dominant forcing driver inside the bay. The amplitudes of subtidal fluctuations induced by local winds were twice as large as the one caused by remote winds. This finding differs from those found in the existing literature, notably for Breton Sound and Lake Pontchartrain, where remote wind effect has been reported to be dominant. These differences are attributed to the different geomorphological features of the estuaries.