Monismith, Burau, & Stacey: Circulation Stratification Dynamics and Gravitational Circulation in Northern San Francisco Bay Stephen Monismith, Jon

In this paper we discuss field observations and modeling results examining the connection between flow-induced stratification and gravitational circulation. We present simultaneous ADCP and top and bottom salinity records collected by the USGS showing that density-driven flows are highly intermittent, with strong gravitational circulation accompanying stratification episodes. Tidal variations in gravitational circulation appear to be linked to tide-induced vertical mixing and to the strain-induced periodic stratification (SIPS) that i s typically found in Northern San Francisco Bay. Results obtained using a ID water column model suggest that there exists a critical condition where tidal mixing is unable to overcome the creation of stratification by advection. Variability of observed stratification i s better explained by a parameter which explicitly considers SIPS, and thus which depends explicitly on the longitudinal salinity gradient, than i t i s by a similar parameter based on flow.