Influence of physical forcing on bottom-water dissolved oxygen within Caloosahatchee River Estuary, Florida

Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code, a numerical estuarine and coastal ocean circulation hydrodynamic and eutrophication model, was used to simulate the distributions of dissolved oxygen (DO), salinity, water temperature, and nutrients in the Caloosahatchee River Estuary. Modeled DO, salinity, and water temperature were in good agreement with field observational data from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and South Florida Water Management District. Sensitivity analyses identified the effects of fiver discharge, atmospheric winds, and tidal forcing on the spatial and temporal distributions of DO. Simulation results indicated that vertical mixing due to wind forcing increased the bottom DO concentration. River discharge enhanced stratification in deep locations but propagated vertical mixing in the shallow upper estuary. Finally, tidal forcing heavily influenced bottom layer DO concentrations throughout the whole fiver estuary. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0000239 CE Database subject headings: Coastal processing; Oceans; Dissolved oxygen; Estuaries; Florida. Author keywords: Caloosahatchee; EFDC; Coastal ocean; Dissolved oxygen.