Hydrology and Freshwater Sources Sample Clauses

Hydrology and Freshwater Sources. Climatological salinity distribution in the Barataria Basin presented by Xxxxxxx and Xxxxxx (1998) (re-plotted in Figure 1-3) shows a wide salinity range going from freshwater in the upper bay to ~15 ppt in mid-bay and to ~25 ppt at the mouths of the bay. Apparently, freshwater input from the surrounding drainage basins contributes significantly, in particular, in the upstream part of the basin in order to maintain nearly fresh water salinity there. This is due to the high land to water ratio in the upstream compared to the downstream (Figure 1.2). Salinities in the downstream part gradually increase toward the open Gulf of Mexico salinities. Consequently, freshwater runoff from the surrounding drainage basins appears to be the most dominant fresh water source in the long-term climatological salinity distribution (Xxxxxx, 1954; Xxxxxxx, 1973; Light et al., 1973; Xxxxxx, 1975; and Xxx Xxxxxx et al., 1976). Freshwater input into Barataria Basin is contributed largely by the following four sources (Table 1-1):