Gerardo M.E. Perillo Maria Cintia Piccolo Mario Pino-Quivira (Eds.) Estuaries of South America Their Geomorphology and Dynamics With 102 Figures and 20 Tables Springer
1 What Do We Know About the Geomorphology and Physical Oceanography of South American Estuaries? 1 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 World Estuary Distribution 4 1.3 Estuaries of South America 6 1.4 International Publications About South American Estuaries 8 1.5 Conclusions 12 Acknowledgements 12 References 13 2 The Maracaibo System: A Physical Profile 15 2.1 Introduction 15 2.2 Geomorphology 15 2.3 Geological History of the Estuary 17 2.4 Climatology 18 2.4.1 Temperature 18 2.4.2 Wind Regime 20 2.4.3 Precipitation 20 2.4.4 Water Balance 21 2.5 Hydrography 22 2.5.1 Tides 22 2.5.2 Water Levels 23 2.5.3 Currents 23 2.6 Salinity 27 2.6.1 Salinity Patterns 27 2.6.2 Salt Intrusion 28 2.6.3 Salt Balance of the Lake 29 2.7 Chemistry and Fertility of the Water 30 2.7.1 Dissolved Oxygen 30 2.7.2 Nutrients 30 2.8 Conclusions 32 References 33 3 Coastal Lagoons of Southeastern Brazil: Physical and Biogeochemical Characteristics 35 3.1 Introduction 35 3.2 Coastal Lagoons in Brazil 36 3.3 Coastal Lagoon Evolution 40
3.4 Tidal Choking 42 3.5 Hydrology and Water Balance 42 3.6 Wind Effects 43 3.7 Salinity and Stratification 44 3.8 Flushing Time 46 3.9 Nutrient Standing Stock and Particulate Organic Matter 48 3.10 Primary Producers 51 3.11 Primary Production 53 3.12 Pelagic and Benthic Metabolism 56 3.13 Nutrient Sources and Primary Production 56 3.14 Trophic State 59 3.15 Human Impact 60 3.16 Management Issues 61 Acknowledgements 62 References 62 4 Nutrients and Suspended Matter Behaviour in the Patos Lagoon Estuary (Brazil) 67 4.1 Introduction 67 4.2 Materials and Methods 69 4.2.1 Data Reduction for Determining Estuarine Behaviour of Nutrients and Total Suspended Matter 70 4.3 Results and Discussions 71 4.3.1 Salinity 71 4.3.2 Dissolved Oxygen 71 4.3.3 Total Suspended Matter 71 4.3.4 Phosphate 73 4.3.5 Nitrate, Nitrite and Ammonium 75 4.3.6 Silicate 78 4.4 Conclusions 80 Acknowledgements 80 References 80 5 Hydrographical Characteristics of the Estuarine Area of Patos Lagoon. 83 5.1 Introduction 83 5.2 Main Characteristics of the Area 84 5.3 Data Sampling and Treatment 86 5.3.1 Longitudinal Surveys 86 5.3.2 Time Series Surveys 87 5.4 Results 88 5.4.1 Longitudinal Salinity and Temperature Distribution 88 5.4.2 Temporal Variations of Water Level, Currents and Salinity 93 5.4.3 Estuarine Classification of the Channel Area 96 5.4.4 Longitudinal Salt Transport 97 5.5 Discussion and Conclusions 98 Acknowledgements 99 References 99
XI 6 The Argentina Estuaries: A Review 101 6.1 Introduction 101 6.2 Rio de la Plata Estuary 104 6.3 Estuaries of the Buenos Aires Province Between Samborombon Bay and Bahi'a Blanca 107 6.3.1 Mar Chiquita Coastal Lagoon 108 6.3.2 Quequen Grande Estuary Ill 6.3.3 Bahfa Blanca Estuary 113 6.4 Estuaries of the Patagonia 116 6.4.1 Colorado River Estuary 117 6.4.2 Negro River Estuary 119 6.4.3 Chubut River Estuary 121 6.5 Estuaries of Southern Patagonia 122 6.5.1 Ri'o Gallegos Estuary 124 6.6 Tierra del Fuego Estuaries 127 6.6.1 San Sebastian Bay 127 Summary 129 Acknowledgements 129 References 129 7 Hydrography and Sediment Transport Characteristics of the Rio de la Plata: A Review 133 7.1 Introduction 133 7.2 Regional Setting 134 7.2.1 Drainage Basin 134 7.2.2 Tributary River Discharge 136 7.2.3 Meteorology 136 7.3 Hydrographic Characteristics 137 7.3.1 Morphology 137 7.3.2 Surficial Bottom Sediments 139 7.3.3 Tides and Tidal Currents 141 7.3.4 Salinity 144 7.3.5 Suspended Sediments 150 7.4 Synthesis 154 Acknowledgements 156 References 157 8 Physical Characteristics and Processes of the Rio de la Plata Estuary. 161 8.1 Introduction 161 8.2 Rio de la Plata Environment 161 8.2.1 Physiographic Setting 161 8.2.2 Climatology 163 8.2.3 River Input 164 8.3 Tides and Tidal Currents 164 8.3.1 Tides in the Estuary 164 8.3.2 Tidal Currents 166 8.3.3 Storm Surges 168
XII Contents 8.4 Salinity and Water Stratification 170 8.4.1 Background 170 8.4.2 Seasonal Distribution 172 8.4.3 Vertical Distribution and Stratification 176 8.5 Temperature 180 8.5.1 Seasonal Distribution 181 8.5.2 Sea Surface Temperature 183 8.6 Turbidity Front 184 8.6.1 Mean Distribution 187 8.6.2 Seasonal Distribution 189 Summary 190 Acknowledgements 190 References 191 9 Geomorphological and Physical Characteristics of the Bahia Blanca Estuary, Argentina 195 9.1 Introduction 195 9.2 Geological Setting 195 9.3 Geomorphology 198 9.3.1 Geomorphology of the Tidal Channels 199 9.4 Physical Processes 205 9.4.1 Tides 205 9.4.2 Wind Influence 207 9.4.3 Salinity and Temperature 208 9.4.4 Tidal Currents 211 9.4.5 Residual Fluxes 211 9.5 Discussion and Conclusions 213 Acknowledgements 214 References 215 Subject Index 217 Geographic Index 221