Water Dynamics and Structure in the Estuary of the Partizanskaya River (Nakhodka Bay, Sea of Japan)

Abstract

Field studies of the seasonal and daily dynamics of the mixing zone were carried out in the microtidal estuary of the Partizanskaya River. The position of the mixing zone was determined by river runoff volume. The upstream boundary of the mixing zone was located at a distance from 5 (at river discharge of 73.67 m³/s) to 12.5 km (at 7.7 m³/s) from the mouth bar. The estuary features a two-layer water circulation, resulting in the formation of halocline with a gradient of water salinity of up to 30‰ per 1 m. Salinity variations at rifts, caused by tides, reach 27‰ over a 3-hour period.