Farfield Modeling of the Boynton Inlet Plume

Abstract

In February, 2007, a tracer study was conducted on the Boynton Inlet, Florida, using sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) tracer. The objectives of this study were to determine if the data collected from the tracer study could be used to develop a farfield model of the plume exiting the Boynton Inlet using limited data to develop a useful predictive result. There are few studies of the farfield movement of inlet plumes in the coastal ocean. The plume was successfully modeled with a Gaussian plume model that appears to mimic the response. It was noted that the tracer concentrated in a series of boluses that migrated north of the inlet. Because the project injected the tracer for only 4 hours during the outgoing time, a long-term result that would hide the boluses was developed. The results showed velocities lower than predicted by the measured current data. The belief is that this is partially a result of tidal influences that affect outflow from the inlet.