Newark Bay Study - Passaic River Public Digital Library

condition reported by Suszkowski, which was based on data obtained from a relatively dry year,
when stratification would likely be enhanced.
Several other studies have focused more directly on Newark Bay and directly contiguous
waterways. For example, Thomas (1993) used the 2-D vertically integrated model of Oey et al.
(1985c) to force a high-resolution model of the Arthur Kill. The somewhat limited vertical
stratification at the northern end of the Arthur Kill was attributed to the sinuosity of the channel,
with stratification of the Arthur Kill becoming more pronounced toward the south, in the direction
of Raritan Bay. Chant used acoustic Doppler current profiles to characterize conditions in the Kill
van Kull (Chant, 2002, as described by Pence, 2004). It was shown that vertical shear was directly
related to the strength of the 2-layer flow pattern, the degree of salinity stratification and the
freshwater flow rate from the Passaic River during neap tide conditions. Kaluarachchi (2003), using
the model of Blumberg et al. (1999), found that salt transport through both the Arthur Kill and Kill
van Kull, particularly the former, was controlled by the water surface elevation gradient between the
Kill van Kull and Perth Amboy (at the southern end of the Arthur Kill) and that density effects were
of limited importance. Pence also described results of an earlier Newark Bay dye study that
indicated there was a net flow of water from Newark Bay to NY Harbor via both the Kill van Kull
and the Arthur Kill, with the outflow via the Kill van Kull being much greater than the outflow via
the Arthur Kill. This conclusion seems to conflict with the findings of Blumberg et al., (1999),
Chant (2002) and others. Whether or not the inconsistency in these results can be accounted for by
consideration of survey-specific conditions at the time of the dye study, or a weakness in the existing
models, will need to be explored in detail during upcoming project-related investigations.
Consideration for simulating the dye release study in a similar fashion to Pence’s earlier analysis will
also be explored.
Suszkowski (1978) conducted a detailed solids balance analysis of the Bay (discussed in the
next section) in one of the earliest studies that attempted to understand the overall exchange of
materials between Newark Bay and adjoining waters. As part of this study he summarized salinity
and current speed information at each of the four main locations where Newark Bay interfaces with
adjacent waterways. He showed that the Passaic River, at the point where it enters the northwest
portion of Newark Bay, is strongly stratified throughout most of the year. It was also found that a
similar though less pronounced condition persists at the mouth of the Hackensack River, which
enters Newark Bay from the northeast. The difference in degree of stratification probably reflects,
at least in part, the relatively low freshwater flow from the Hackensack River and the much greater
tidal flow in the Hackensack, a condition that induces greater turbulence and enhanced mixing.
Maximum salinity was observed at the NY Harbor entrance to the Kill van Kull, consistent with the
high current speeds that are typical of conditions within this interconnecting waterway. While some
stratification was also evident both at this location and at the Newark Bay entrance to the Arthur
Kill, it was relatively slight and similar to other locations within the Bay. It is worth noting that
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