Temporal Variability of Suspended-Solids Concentration in the Estuarine Channel of Patos Lagoon, Southern Brazil

Abstract

The assessment of suspended-solids dynamics is crucial for the effective monitoring of estuarine environments. As the recurring in-situ sampling is usually problematic, the calibration of the backscattering from acoustic Doppler profilers has shown to be a reliable technique to estimate the suspended-solids concentration (SSC) in estuaries and rivers. In this study, we obtained a linear model that provides SSC estimates for the estuarine channel of Patos Lagoon by calibrating turbidity and acoustic data with in-situ concentration samples. The model output was analyzed in terms of its relationship with estuarine hydrodynamics and temporal variability. In this estuary, the supply of suspended solids is known to be due the runoff from its main tributaries, but also through the exchanges between the estuary and the coastal ocean. Both sources provide sediments and organic solids which affect water quality, geomorphology, and harbor operations. Results show that SSC is strongly linked to estuarine hydrodynamics, where concentrations increase with streamflow. During outflow periods, higher concentrations are associated with river runoff, whereas with inflow conditions they are induced by southern and southwesterly winds. However, relationship between SSC and streamflow is asymmetrical, meaning that the largest concentrations are majorly linked to outflow currents and downstream transport.