Intense lateral intrusion of offshore sub-surface waters in Halifax Harbour

Abstract

The main physical processes affecting the circulation variability in Halifax Harbour (HH), including the intense lateral intrusion of offshore sub-surface waters into Bedford Basin (BB), are studied using a nested-grid modelling system (NGMS). The annual and monthly mean circulation in HH are characterized by a typical two-layer estuarine circulation, with seaward currents in the upper layer and landward currents in the lower layer, both showing strong temporal and spatial variability. The intense lateral intrusion of offshore sub-surface waters into BB occurs at time scales of a few days. The intense intrusion, in combination with winter connection, is important for the renewal of deep waters in BB. The model sensitivity experiments suggest that the persistent northwesterly winds strengthen the near-surface seaward currents and the lateral intrusion of offshore sub-surface waters into BB. The persistent southwesterly winds can also trigger the lateral intrusion, but are less effective than the northwesterly winds. The southeasterly winds, on the contrary, reduce significantly the seaward currents in the surface layer and prevent the lateral intrusion. The accumulative effects of winds and tides on the 3D hydrodynamics in HH are also examined. Local winds have dominant effects on the 3D currents and temperature/salinity, through driving vertical mixing and coastal upwelling. By comparison, tides play a secondly role in affecting the currents and temperature/salinity in BB but are important in the Narrows.