Analysis of the influence of river discharge and wind on the Ebro turbid plume using MODIS-Aqua and MODIS-Terra data

• Published in: Journal of marine systems 2015-02, Vol.142, p.40-46
• Main Authors: Fernández-Nóvoa, D., Mendes, R., deCastro, M., Dias, J.M., Sánchez-Arcilla, A., Gómez-Gesteira, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: BUOYANT PLUME; CIRCULATION; DAMS; Discharge; Ebre (Riu); Ebro River Delta (Spain); Ebro River plume; Enginyeria civil; ESTUARY; FLOW; Freshwater; Geologia; Hidrologia; IMAGERY; Imaging; Marine; Measurement; MODIS; Mouth; OCEAN COLOR; Plumes; Regional; Regional oceanic circulation; River discharge; Rivers; SEA; SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA; Spectroradiometers; STORMWATER RUNOFF PLUMES; Turbidity; Wind effect; Àrees temàtiques de la UPC
• ISSN: 0924-7963; 1879-1573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmarsys.2014.09.009

The turbid plume formed at many river mouths influences the adjacent coastal area because it transports sediments, nutrients, and pollutants. The effects of the main forcings affecting the Ebro turbid plume were analyzed using data obtained from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor onboard the Aqua and Terra satellites over the period 2003–2011. Composite images were obtained for days under certain river discharge conditions (different flow regimes) and different types of wind (alongshore and cross-shore winds) in order to obtain a representative plume pattern for each situation. River discharge was the main driver of the Ebro River plume, followed by wind as the secondary force and regional oceanic circulation as the third one. Turbid plume extension increased monotonically with increased river discharge. Under high river discharge conditions (>355m3s−1), wind distributed the plume in the dominant wind direction. Seaward winds (mistral) produced the largest extension of the plume (1893km2), whereas southern alongshore winds produced the smallest one (1325km2). Northern alongshore winds induced the highest mean turbid value of the plume, and southern alongshore winds induced the lowest one. Regardless of the wind condition, more than 70% of the plume extension was located south of the river mouth influenced by the regional oceanic circulation. •Main forcing drivers on the Ebro River turbid plume analyzed through MODIS-Aqua and MODIS-Terra imagery•Turbidity composites developed for days that fulfill certain conditions of river discharge and wind•River discharge is the main driver on the Ebro plume.•Wind is the secondary forcing on the Ebro plume, which showed a great influence under high river discharge.•Regional oceanic circulation is the third forcing factor.