Quantifying Water Retention Time in Non-tidal Coastal Waters Using Statistical and Mass Balance Models

Abstract

The water retention time (sometimes called residence time) in coastal areas is an indicator of coastal hydrodynamics which can be used to quantify the local transportation of dissolved and suspended pollutants. This study has used dynamic and statistical models to explore what governs the water retention time in non-tidal coastal waters of the Baltic Sea. If freshwater input divided by the cross-section area between the coastal water and the sea was below a certain threshold, freshwater had no notable impact on the retention time. Moreover, statistical models were developed for predicting surface water retention time and total water retention time from coastal water volume, cross-section area and freshwater discharge. This study can be useful for managers who need to determine where abatement measures should be focused in order to be as effective as possibly against coastal water pollution.

Keywords

Retention time; Coastal area; Baltic Sea; Statistical model; Mass balance

Published in

Water, Air, and Soil Pollution
2014, volume: 225, number: 7, article number: 2020
Publisher: SPRINGER

SLU Authors

• Bryhn, Andreas

  • Department of Aquatic Resources (SLU Aqua), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Global goals (SDG)

SDG6 Clean water and sanitation
SDG14 Life below water

UKÄ Subject classification

Ocean and River Engineering
Oceanography, Hydrology, Water Resources

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-014-2020-z

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/66416