Simplified modeling of flushing and residence times in 42 embayments in New England, USA, with special attention to Greenwich Bay, Rhode Island

A simplified protocol has been developed to meet the need for modeling hydrodynamics and transport in large numbers of embayments quickly and reliably. The procedure is illustrated with 42 embayments in southern New England, USA, giving special attention to Greenwich Bay, RI. The methodology uses simplifying assumptions. It efficiently uses available information wherever possible, and invokes experience where data are unavailable. It uses two-dimensional hydrodynamic and transport models to simulate tidal and subtidal circulation, flushing times, local residence times, and the distributions of conservative constituents over individual embayments. Preliminary results for a subset of the systems compare favorably with published values. The full set of results reveals relationships between flushing times and physical properties of the embayments. A set of relationships to estimate flushing and maximum residence times from the length and surface area of embayments in southern New England is also presented.