Hydrodynamic characterization of a meso-tidal estuary: Inhambane Bay (Mozambique)

This contribution analyze “in-situ” data obtained in the unexplored estuary of Inhambane Bay (Mozambique). Inhambane Bay is a bar-built estuary with a length of 30.5 km and an extension of 288 km². Synchronous measurements of sea-level, temperature/salinity and water current velocity were obtained during two intensive field campaigns covering dry and wet climatological seasons. Additional Sea Surface Temperature (SST) obtained from GHRSST project were used to charcterize the estuary. The first results reveal a meso-tidal estuary with water currents of 1.0 m/s. The water velocity profiles show an homogeneous profile in the ADCP measurements. The hydrographic surveys and GHRSST product confirms a remarkable seasonal variability. The largest SST are observed from November to May, coinciding with the warm and rainy season. Salinity profiles are almost vertical and the variability follows the direction of the tidal phase (lower salinity values are observed during low tide). In consequence, the estuary is well-mixed with salinity increasing values downward the estuary. The flushing time is estimated between 1 -3 days in function of the neap/spring tide using the Tidal Prism method.

Acknowledgments:

 ECOSISTEMA project (CTM2017-84275-R)