The influences of winds on the salt balance of the Tampa Bay during the fall of 2001

A three-dimensional, high resolution, Finite Volume Coastal Ocean Model (FVCOM) is used to diagnose the influences of winds during the fall of 2001 on the salt balance of the Tampa Bay. To distinguish the wind effecting, two experiments are designed: one is driven by tides and rivers; the other is driven by tides, rivers and winds. First, the salinity change induced by wind is provided. Wind forcing can significantly increase the salinity inside the Tampa Bay, along with decreases of horizontal and vertical salt gradients. Subsequently, the salt balance principles are detailed addressed. The primary salt balance is between the total (horizontal plus vertical) advective salt flux divergence and vertical diffusive salt flux divergence except at the channel bottom where horizontal diffusive salt flux divergence comes into play. At last, the salt balance variation induced by winds is further addressed. Wind forcing does not change the relative importance of salt balance terms. The variations of the salt balance terms influenced by winds are highly dependent on the specific locations. Besides, the variations of the total advective salt flux divergence and the vertical diffusive salt flux divergence are nearly couterbalance, and both of two terms are much greater than that of the horizontal diffusive salt flux divergence.