The results of an extensive sea-bed drifter study are presented and the physical processes producing residual drift of the near-bed water are discussed. The drifter returns show that there is a strong landward movement near the bed throughout the whole of the Bay; also that there are distinct divisions between the estuarial-type systems associated with the Dee, Mersey and Ribble estuaries. The general residual movement is caused primarily by the circulation produced by the combined effect of the tidal currents (with their associated mixing processes) and the longitudinal density-gradients (caused by the input of freshwater from the rivers). Seasonal changes in the near-bed residual drift are considered and the effect of storm conditions is discussed.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.