{
  "abstract": "This study investigates the hydrodynamic and mixing processes at the estuary–shelf transition of a microtidal system, and the buoyant plume generated at the Patos Lagoon mouth (Brazil). Using measurements of current velocities, salinity, temperature, and turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) dissipation ( ϵ ) during a high-discharge period (∼ 9400 m ³ s ⁻¹ ), we characterize the spatial evolution of turbulence and mixing along the channel, from the source to the buoyancy-driven plume region. Diagnosed using the internal Froude number, the observations showed a transition from sub-critical flow in the channel to super-critical flow in the buoyant plume liftoff zone, and back to sub-critical flow offshore. Despite strong stratification, intense shear-driven turbulence was observed, with TKE dissipation rates reaching 10 ⁻³ W kg ⁻¹ near the mouth, comparable to values reported in high-energy mesotidal and macrotidal systems. Analysis of the buoyancy Reynolds number ( Re b ) and the gradient Richardson number ( Ri ) indicates that inertial forcing overcomes buoyancy suppression, maintaining a predominantly turbulent regime ( Re b > 200) at the plume front. These results demonstrate that, in narrow, high-discharge estuarine outlets, the spatial evolution of turbulence and mixing reflects the combined influence of channel morphology, secondary circulation, and plume adjustment processes operating within a sustained supercritical flow regime, maintaining vigorous mixing even under pronounced density stratification.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (Rio Grande, Brazil)"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 3,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Débora Barros"
    },
    {
      "name": "Lauren Ross"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Carlos A. F. Schettini"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/e59tpawjpc0bb.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.5194/os-22-3121-2026",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "e59tpawjpc0bb",
  "issns": [
    "1812-0792"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://os.copernicus.org/articles/22/3121/2026/",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "1910|Oceanographic and Atmospheric Processes"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7155398275",
  "pdf_url": "https://os.copernicus.org/articles/22/3121/2026/os-22-3121-2026.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-08",
  "publisher": "Copernicus GmbH",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/e59tpawjpc0bb.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:20:39Z",
      "native_id": "10.5194/os-22-3121-2026",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://os.copernicus.org/articles/22/3121/2026/"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "earth",
      "origin": "openalex:1910|Oceanographic and Atmospheric Processes",
      "subfield": "oceanography"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Turbulence and mixing along a microtidal and stratified estuary-shelf transition",
  "title_text": "Turbulence and mixing along a microtidal and stratified estuary-shelf transition",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:20:39Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/e59tpawjpc0bb",
  "venue": "Ocean Science",
  "versions": [
    {
      "doi": "10.5194/egusphere-2026-1840",
      "pid": null,
      "relation": "preprint",
      "title": null,
      "venue": null
    }
  ]
}