Abstract. Spring-neap and spatial variations of gravitational circulation and tidal exchanges in the Sumjin River Estuary (SRE) were investigated using the flushing rate. The flushing rate was calculated between multiple estuarine segments and the adjacent bay to examine the spatial variation of two exchanges. The strength of gravitational circulation and tidal exchanges modulated significantly between spring and neap tides, where stratification alternated between well-mixed and highly-stratified conditions over the spring-neap cycle. Tidedriven dispersive flux of salt dominated over gravitational circulation exchange near the mouth during spring tide due to the larger tidal amplitude that caused well-mixed conditions and rapid exchange. In contrast, the central and inner regimes were found to be partially stratified during spring tide due to the reduction in tidal amplitude where both gravitational circulation and tidal exchanges were important in transporting salt. The combined contributions of two fluxes were also found during neap tide along the SRE due to the significant reduction in vertical mixing that accompanied strong stratification. Gravitational circulation exchange almost entirely dominated in transporting salt at the upstream end during spring and neap tides.

Spring-neap and spatial variations of gravitational circulation and tidal exchanges in the Sumjin River Estuary (SRE) were investigated using the flushing rate method. This method was applied to multiple estuarine segments to estimate both the exchanges. The strength of gravitational circulation and tidal exchanges modulated significantly between spring and neap tides, where stratification alternated between well-mixed and highly-stratified conditions over the spring-neap cycle. Strong gravitational circulation developed during neap tide along the SRE due to the significant reduction in vertical mixing that accompanied strong stratification. The tidal exchanges dominated over gravitational circulation near the mouth during spring tide due to the larger tidal amplitude that caused well-mixed conditions and rapid exchange. In contrast, the central and inner regimes were found to be partially stratified during spring tide due to the reduction in tidal amplitude which induced gravitational circulation and weakened the tidal exchange. Only the gravitational circulation dominated at the upstream end during spring and neap tides which was governed by the river flow

Abstract. The effective longitudinal dispersion is a primary tool for determining property distributions in estuaries. Most previous studies have examined the longitudinal dispersion coefficient for the average tidal condition. However, information on spatial and temporal variations of this coefficient at low and high tides is scarce. Three years of hydrographic data taken at low and high tide along the main axis of the Sumjin River Estuary (SRE), Korea are used to estimate the spatial and temporal variation of the effective longitudinal dispersion coefficient. The range of the dispersion coefficient is rather broad at high water slack (HWS) and narrower at low water slack (LWS) because of the different tidal amplitudes. The spatially varying dispersion coefficient has maximal values (>300 m 2 s −1 ) near the mouth at high water and decreases gradually upstream, with fluctuations. The temporally varying dispersion coefficient appears to be positively correlated with river discharges at both low and high tide. The dispersion varies with the square root of river discharges at HWS and LWS. The dispersive salt fluxes increases with increasing river discharges and decreases with decreasing river discharges at HWS and LWS. Estimation of the numerical values of the effective longitudinal dispersion coefficient in the SRE can be useful for better understanding of the distributions of other tracers in the SRE as well as for developing and testing hypotheses about various mixing mechanisms.

A Lagrangian particle tracking model coupled with the ECOM3D were used to study on the behavior of fresh water released from the Namgang Dam in terms of residence time in Kangjin Bay, South Sea, Korea. Model was calibrated until skill cores for elevation, velocity, temperature and salinity are satisfied over 85%. In the numerical simulation, particles were released in 1 hour time interval from the northern boundary. The different patterns of particle trajectory are identified under the varying dynamics from tidal to density-driven current. The average residence time of total particles are approximately 65.9 hours in the entire Kangjin Bay. The average residence time were increased from 55~65 to 70~80 hours during maximum discharge period. Discharge rate of fresh water and average residence time in the Kangjin Bay is high correlated with correlation coefficient over 0.81.

The effective longitudinal dispersion is a primary tool for determining property distributions in estuaries. Most previous studies have examined the longitudinal dispersion coefficient for the average tidal condition. However, information on spatial and temporal variations of this coefficient at low and high tide is scarce. Three years of hydrographic data taken at low and high tide along the main axis of the Sumjin River Estuary (SRE), Korea are used to estimate the spatial and temporal variation of the effective longitudinal dispersion coefficient. The range of the dispersion coefficient is rather broad at high water slack (HWS) and narrower at low water slack (LWS) because of the different tidal amplitudes. The spatially varying dispersion coefficient has maximal values (>300 m² s⁻¹) near the mouth at high water and decreases gradually upstream, with fluctuations. The temporally varying dispersion coefficient appears to be positively correlated with river discharges at both low and high tide. The dispersion varies with the square root of river discharges at HWS and LWS. The dispersive salt fluxes increases with increasing river discharges and decreases with decreasing river discharges at HWS and LWS. Estimation of the numerical values of the effective longitudinal dispersion coefficient in the SRE can be useful for better understanding of the distributions of other tracers in the SRE as well as for developing and testing hypotheses about various mixing mechanisms