An extended velocity projection method for estimating the subsurface current and density structure for coastal plume regions: An application to the Chesapeake Bay outflow plume

For the Chesapeake Bay case study, we show how the proposed method, referred to as 'extended velocity projection', can produce estimates of plume current structure consistent with available ADCP profiles. We assess the sensitivity of the results to feature model parameters, and identify the resolution of spatial salinity gradient as being particularly important. The difference between the density-stratified estimate and the ADCP data can be used to calibrate and improve the zero-order dynamic feature model parameters. This synergistic approach with the extended velocity projection method should be applicable to other coastal plumes and possibly other shallow water features.