Circulation and salt balance in the São Francisco river Estuary (NE/Brazil)

ABSTRACT In order to evaluate how river discharge and tidal currents forcing influence the circulation and salt transport within the São Francisco River-Estuary, a two 25 hour surveys campaigns and along-channel profiles were performed in the estuary main channel (18/19 and 25/26 February 2014). The current intensity showed higher asymmetry between flood (v<0) and ebb (v>0) currents in spring tide (-0.6 and 1.1 m/s), as compared to neap tide (-0.4 and 1.0 m/s), which was attributed to the intense buoyancy energy enhanced by the stronger discharge in spring. Overall, salinity presented high stratified conditions and varied between 0.0