Tidal Hydraulics (EM 1110-2-1607), Chapter 3: Hydrodynamic Analysis of Estuaries

This chapter covers how to analyze the movement of water in an estuary. It starts with the factors that influence hydrodynamics, including tides, freshwater inflow, salinity, temperature, the Coriolis force, geometric influences, and seiching.

It then compares the solution methods available: field observations, analytical solutions, numerical modeling, physical models, and hybrid methods that combine the numerical and physical approaches. For each method, it explains what it can tell you and what data it needs.

Choosing the right method early saves money, because the later sedimentation and design work depends on a sound picture of how water moves.

In this chapter

• Factors Influencing Hydrodynamics
• Solution Methods
• Field observations
• Analytical solution methods
• Numerical modeling
• Physical models
• Hybrid method