A physical description of longperiodnet displacement variation within the southern Indian River Lagoon, Florida

Meteorological and hydrographic data were recorded over a 29-da period in the
summer of 1981 to describe wind effects on long-period net displacement of water along the
navigational channel of the southern Indian River lagoon , Florida. Tidal motions decreased with
increasing distance from the ocean inlets at either end of the study area, enhancing wind effects.
Tidal current speeds in the middle of the study area were 50% of those at the Fort Pierce Inlet,
while the nontidal current variance increased by 27% over the same distance, and by 64% over
that at the St. Lucie Inlet. A net displacement of water toward the north throughout the study
area was coherent with windstress over time scales in excess of 2 da.

Florida Atlantic University. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute contribution 280

This manuscript is an author version with the final
publication available and may be cited as: Sternberger, M. S. (1983). A physical description of longperiod
net displacement variation within the southern Indian River Lagoon, Florida. Florida Scientist,
46(3-4), 396-406.