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- Linking hydrodynamics and fish larvae retention in estuarine nursery areas from an ecohydrological perspectivePublication . Teodosio, Maria; Garel, ErwanGlobal change is affecting freshwater flow into estuarine nursery areas, with effects on fish larvae retention. Until now, related studies usually considered all early phases of fishes as passive drifters. However, the swimming behaviour of temperate fish larvae in these areas with strong tides and freshwater inflow is poorly described. The goal of this study was to review the swimming abilities of temperate fish species through ontogeny, the influence of nutritional conditions and how they are able to cope with hydrodynamics changes in nursery areas (including extreme freshet events resulting from dam management), using the Guadiana Estuary as a case study. The ontogeny of the swimming behaviour of estuarine fish larvae from different taxonomic groups was analyzed using the maximum sprint or critical swimming speed (Ucrit). Those results were compared with current observations performed under various tidal and river discharge conditions. In addition, the effect of larval nutritional condition on swimming abilities was also discussed. Overall, most of the species presented skills to be retained inside nursery areas, using distinct strategies. Those involve short term directional horizontal swimming against the axial currents, vertical migration and the use of residual upstream flows, especially over shallower areas. Nevertheless, during high freshet events all the studied species larvae will be flushed out of the estuary with consequent survival threaten. Extensive investigations are needed to thoroughly explore the relation of in situ behavioural responses of fish larvae and small scale estuarine hydrodynamics, towards a sustainable ecohydrological management of nurseries in flow regulated estuaries.
- Sand bypass and updrift beach evolution after jetty construction at an ebb-tidal deltaPublication . Garel, Erwan; Mendes da Silva de Sousa, Carlos A; Ferreira, ÓscarThe evolution of an ebb-tidal delta (Guadiana, South Portugal) and its updrift beach after jetty construction (in 1972e1974) is analysed based on 24 ortho-rectified aerial photographs (1940e2012) and 13 bathymetric maps (1969e2014). The objectives are to evaluate the re-establishment of the sand bypassing process and if the disruption of the historical delta may affect the updrift beach evolution. Post-jetty progradation of the updrift beach resulted from two large accretion events. The second (largest) event (110 m progradation in 1985e1994) was due to beach attachment of a shoal produced by the erosion of a broad shallow area relict of the historical delta. The reworking of sand from this relict area also enables the individualisation of a lateral updrift bar simultaneously with the new ebb shoal proper formation. Both morphological features were close to (volume) equilibrium in 1995, indicating that most of the sand was transported towards the downdrift side of the inlet at that time. This study shows that erosion of the historical delta may enhance significantly the updrift shoreline progradation and may promote the re-establishment of sand bypassing after jetty construction.
- Kinematics of surface currents at the northern margin of the Gulf of CádizPublication . De Oliveira Júnior, Luciano; Relvas, Paulo; Garel, ErwanThe subtidal surface water circulation at the northern margin of the Gulf of Cadiz, at the southern extremity of the Iberian upwelling system, is described based on validated hourly high-frequency radar measurements from 2016 to 2020. Statistical analyses (mean, standard deviation, eccentricity and empirical orthogonal functions) are applied to the dataset, which is completed with ADCP time series from multiple moorings at five inner-shelf stations and ERAS wind. Off the shelf, the main circulation pattern consists of a slope current, best developed in summer when north-westerlies dominate, in particular at the most exposed western region. Mechanisms other than upwelling must contribute to this flow in order to explain its seasonal persistence. The slope circulation reverses for regional wind events with an east component > 10 m s(-1), approximately. On the shelf, currents are mainly alongshore and balanced. The circulation is generally continuous along the coast, except for weak (< 0.1 m s(-1), broadly) poleward flows. In the latter case, the flow tends to remain equatorward near Cape Santa Maria. In winter, coastal poleward flows often extend over the entire margin and are mainly wind-driven. In summer, these flows generally consist of coastal counter currents (CCCs) with the poleward direction opposed to that of the slope current. The CCCs are associated with significant cyclonic recirculation, strongest to the west, where a transient eddy is shortly observed for weak wind stress. This circulation develops after periods of strong north-westerlies, supporting that CCCs result from the imbalance of a regional alongshore pressure gradient.
- Fortnightly changes in water transport direction across the mouth of a narrow estuaryPublication . Garel, Erwan; Ferreira, ÓscarThis research investigates the dynamics of the axial tidal flow and residual circulation at the lower Guadiana Estuary, south Portugal, a narrow mesotidal estuary with low freshwater inputs. Current data were collected near the deepest part of the channel for 21 months and across the channel during two (spring and neap) tidal cycles. Results indicate that at the deep channel, depth-averaged currents are stronger and longer during the ebb at spring and during the flood at neap, resulting in opposite water transport directions at a fortnightly time scale. The net water transport across the entire channel is up-estuary at spring and down-estuary at neap, i.e., opposite to the one at the deep channel. At spring tide, when the estuary is considered to be well mixed, the observed pattern of circulation (outflow in the deep channel, inflow over the shoals) results from the combination of the Stokes transport and compensating return flow, which varies laterally with the bathymetry. At neap tide (in particular for those of lowest amplitude each month), inflows at the deep channel are consistently associated with the development of gravitational circulation. Comparisons with previous studies suggest that the baroclinic pressure gradient (rather than internal tidal asymmetries) is the main driver of the residual water transport. Our observations also indicate that the flushing out of the water accumulated up-estuary (at spring) may also produce strong unidirectional barotropic outflow across the entire channel around neap tide.
- Applicability of sediment transport models to evaluate medium term evolution of tidal inlet systemsPublication . Pacheco, A.; Williams, J. J.; Ferreira, Óscar; Garel, Erwan; Reynolds, S.This paper derives local formulae to estimate bed roughness and suspended transport and present a method to calculate net sediment transport at tidal inlet systems, combining field data and a range of well established empirical formulations. To accomplish this, measurements spanning a spring-tidal cycle of mean water levels, waves, near-bed flow turbulence and bed forms were obtained from the Ancão Inlet, Ria Formosa lagoon system, Portugal. High-resolution hydrodynamic data were gathered using acoustic equipments and by measuring sediment properties (grain-size diameter and bed form dimensions) under fair-weather conditions. The results compared favourably with available direct and indirect field observations of sediment transport rates. The approach appears to be robust and widely applicable and so can be applied to the same conditions in any tidal inlet system. This is of particular importance when attempting to understand sediment transport at inlet mouths, and has practical applications in a range of coastal engineering and coastal management areas concerned with navigation safety, coastal erosion, ecosystem health and water quality. The study discusses the applicability of the method on evaluating system flushing capacity, giving important insights on multiple inlet evolution, particularly with regard to their persistence through time. The methodological framework can be applied to assess the long-term stability of single- and multiple-inlet systems, provided that estimates of sediment storage at ebb-tidal deltas are available and sediment transport estimates during storm events are statistically considered.
- Effects of tidal and river discharge forcings on tidal propagation along the Guadiana EstuaryPublication . Calero Quesada, Maria Concepcion; Garcia-Lafuente, Jesus; Garel, Erwan; Delgado Cabello, Javier; Martins, Flávio; Moreno-Navas, JuanA numerical model is implemented to explore the effect of the river discharge on tidal propagation along the Guadiana Estuary, a rock-bound estuary located in Southwest Iberia. The MOHID numerical model, in 2D barotropic mode, has been forced by tides at the ocean side and by freshwater at the upstream boundary of the domain. The model was validated using water level and velocity observations at several locations along the estuary. Different scenarios with variable tidal forcings and freshwater discharges were analysed, considering the semi- diurnal constituents and M4 overtide, in order to assess the influence of each external agent on the along-channel hydrodynamics. The model reproduces the expected general tidal properties along the channel in terms of amplitude (of both elevation and current), asymmetry and phase between horizontal and vertical tides. Three zones along the estuary have been defined based on the overtide patterns. Tidal propagation in Zone I, at the lower estuary, vary essentially with the tidal amplitude at the mouth while changes due to river discharge are minor. Along Zone II (middle estuary), the tidal forcing still predominates, for low discharge values only. Along Zone III (upper estuary), the tidal propagation is primarily controlled by the river discharge. Although the discharge threshold vary with the location and parameter considered, it is estimated that a discharge as little as 100 m3/s has a strong effect on the tidal properties along the system as a whole. It is therefore concluded that tidal properties in rock-bound estuaries may be importantly modified by relatively weak river discharge events.
- Characterisation of coastal counter-currents on the inner shelf of the Gulf of CadizPublication . Garel, Erwan; Laiz, I.; Drago, T.; Relvas, PauloAt the Gulf of Cadiz (GoC), poleward currents leaning along the coast alternate with coastal upwelling jets of opposite direction. Here the patterns of these coastal countercurrents (CCCs) are derived from ADCP data collected during 7 deployments at a single location on the inner shelf. The multiyear (2008–2014) time-series, constituting ~ 18 months of hourly records, are further analysed together with wind data from several sources representing local and basin-scale conditions. During one deployment, temperature sensors were also installed near the mooring site to examine the vertical thermal stratification associated with periods of poleward flow. These observations indicate that the coastal circulation is mainly alongshore and barotropic. However, a baroclinic flow is often observed shortly at the time of flow inversion to poleward. CCCs develop all year-round and exclusively control the occurrence of warm coastal water during the upwelling season. On average, one poleward flow lasting 3 days was observed every week, corresponding to CCCs during ~ 40% of the time without seasonal variability. Thus, the studied region is distinct from typical upwelling systems where equatorward coastal upwelling jets largely predominate. CCCs often start to develop near the bed and are frequently associated with 2-layer cross-shore flows characteristic of downwelling conditions (offshore near the bed). In general, the action of alongshore wind stress alone does not justify the development of CCCs. The coastal circulation is best correlated and shows the highest coherence with south-eastward wind in the basin that proceeds from the rotation of southward wind at the West coast of Portugal, hence suggesting a dominant control of large-scale wind conditions. In agreement, wavelet analyses indicate that CCCs are best correlated with alongshore wind occurring in a band period characteristic of the upwelling system (8–32 days). Furthermore, in the absence of wind coastal currents tend to be poleward during summer. This set of observations supports that CCCs develop in response to the unbalance of an alongshore pressure gradient during the relaxation of (system-scale) upwelling-favourable winds, oriented south-eastward in the basin. The relaxation periods defined based on this wind direction show a good correspondence with the periods of poleward flow.
- Dynamics of fortnightly water level variations along a tide-dominated estuary with negligible river dischargePublication . Garel, Erwan; Zhang, Ping; Cai, HuayangObservations indicate that the fortnightly fluctuations in mean water level increase in amplitude along the lower half of a tide-dominated estuary (The Guadiana estuary) with negligible river discharge but remain constant upstream. Analytical solutions reproducing the semi-diurnal wave propagation shows that this pattern results from reflection effects at the estuary head. The phase difference between velocity and elevation increases from the mouth to the head (where the wave has a standing nature) as the high and low water levels get progressively closer to slack water. Thus, the tidal (flood-ebb) asymmetry in discharge is reduced in the upstream direction. It becomes negligible along the upper estuary half, as the mean sea level remains constant despite increased friction due to wave shoaling. Observations of a flat mean water level along a significant portion of an upper estuary, easier to obtain than the phase difference, can therefore indicate significant reflection of the propagating semi-diurnal wave at the head. Details of the analytical model shows that changes in the mean depth or length of semi-arid estuaries, in particular for macrotidal locations, affect the fortnightly tide amplitude, and thus the upstream mass transport and inundation regime. This has significant potential impacts on the estuarine environment.
- Decadal morphological response of an ebb-tidal delta and down-drift beach to artificial breaching and inlet stabilisationPublication . Garel, Erwan; Mendes da Silva de Sousa, Carlos A; Ferreira, Óscar; Morales, J. A.The morphodynamic response of a mixed-energy ebb-tidal delta (Guadiana estuary, southern Portugal) and its down-drift barrier island (Canela Island) to channel relocation and stabilisation by jetties is examined using a series of sequential bathymetric maps and vertical aerial photographs spanning five decades. Morphological analysis indicates that the ebb delta is in an immature state, characterised by weak sediment bypassing. Landward-migrating shoals on the swash platform have been produced by the jetty-induced artificial bankbreaching and by the collapse of the eastern portion of the delta. The welding of these shoals has largely controlled the evolution of the coast, with local accretion and erosion lasting for years, and large amounts of regional accretion occurring over decades due to sand accumulation against jetties located further down-drift. These observations provide insights into the potential response of a coast to very large, locally concentrated sand nourishment in the form of shoals. The main effects of the jetties on the coast are observed at the centre of Canela Island, with the production of an erosion hot-spot associated with a temporally persistent and divergent longshore transport providing sand to the adjacent areas. Significant accretion is anticipated for the next decade along the entire island due to the ongoing attachment of the presently observed shoals. After the depletion of this sediment source, and in the context of weak sediment bypassing, the most severe down-drift erosion induced by the jetties is predicted to occur some decades after their construction. This study demonstrates that the geomorphic response of an ebb-tidal delta to jetty construction must be considered at multiple temporal and spatial scales when assessing the impacts of jetties on the down-drift coast
- The Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 expands its non-native distribution into the Ria Formosa lagoon and the Guadiana estuary (SW-Iberian Peninsula, Europe)Publication . Morais, Pedro; Gaspar, Miguel; Garel, Erwan; Baptista, Vânia; Cruz, Joana; Cerveira, Inês; Leitão, Francisco; Teodosio, MariaThe Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 is native in the western Atlantic, however it is a non-indigenous species across Europe since 1900, among other world regions. In this paper, we report the first occurrences of this species in the Ria Formosa lagoon and in the Guadiana estuary (SW-Iberian Peninsula, Europe) which occurred in 2016 and July 2017, respectively. We hypothesize that the introduction of this species into these ecosystems might be due to the expansion of the Guadalquivir estuary population through natural processes (larval advection, active movement), or due to unintended introduction events after being transported aboard fishing boats, or, less likely, through ballast water. Changes in Guadiana's river flow after the construction of the Alqueva dam might also explain the presence of another non-indigenous species in the Guadiana estuary. The hypotheses presented, regarding the introduction of the Atlantic blue crab into these ecosystems and of its co-occurrence with other decapod species, are framed in a broader context to serve as a future research framework. The use of the Atlantic blue crab as a new fishing resource is also proposed, namely if it is to be used exclusively by local communities and if no deleterious impacts upon other fisheries and the ecosystem occur from this new fishery.