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