Open Collections

Some aspects of the oceanographic structure in the Jervis Inlet system

University of British Columbia

The variations in the distributions of temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen content in the water in the Jervis system of inlets, between July 1961 and March 1963, have been examined in order to ascertain net current patterns and interactions between the inlets. The depths of the entrance sills divide the inlets into two groups. Of the four inlets in the system three possess shallow sills which force the tide water to enter the inlets in a turbulent jet. The circulation pattern resulting from the influence of this jet on the inlet is proposed. In contrast, the sill of the largest inlet in the system (Jervis) is deep and the tidal flow does not destroy the vertical stratification in the inlet to any appreciable degree. The relatively small fresh water runoff into Jervis creates a weak estuarine circulation resulting in slow renewal of the intermediate and deep water. The low oxygen concentrations found at mid-depths near the head of Jervis are attributed to this abnormally slow renewal. A mid-depth oscillatory flow of unknown period was found during the winter of 1962-63 in Jervis Inlet. This flow is attributed to strong south-westerly winds which raise the water level in Jervis Inlet forcing a mid-depth outflow. The direction of this flow possesses a negative correlation with the depth of the surface layer.

Text

2011-10-20

For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/38135

Physics

University of British Columbia

Graduate