Investigating the impacts of wave-driven Langmuir turbulence on the estuarine circulation

The project will employ a turbulence-resolving simulation framework with realistic bathymetry and density stratification to investigate the impact of Langmuir turbulence on the regional estuarine circulation. The investigators will develop a three-dimensional time-dependent, nonhydrostatic simulation framework with realistic bathymetry. They will analyze high-resolution satellite imagery and observations from a recent field campaign to identify wind conditions favorable for Langmuir turbulence generation in estuaries. The project will fundamentally advance understanding of the physics of estuarine transport processes and the dynamics of Langmuir turbulence. The research will address the following hypotheses: Langmuir turbulence is a predominant process for wind directions with long fetches and relatively weak tidal currents; For favorable conditions, Langmuir turbulence greatly enhances vertical mixing processes thereby substantially altering the estuarine circulation; and surface convergence regions in the presence of Langmuir turbulence compete with those due to the lateral estuarine flow thereby controlling the aggregation and trapping of buoyant material. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.