Date of Award
8-2024
Degree Type
Masters Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
School
Ocean Science and Engineering
Committee Chair
Dr. Mustafa Kemal Cambazoglu
Committee Chair School
Ocean Science and Engineering
Committee Member 2
Dr. Jerry D. Wiggert
Committee Member 2 School
Ocean Science and Engineering
Committee Member 3
Dr. Stephan D. Howden
Committee Member 3 School
Ocean Science and Engineering
Abstract
Four 50-acre experimental oyster leases; two near Saint Louis Bay (StLB) and two near Pascagoula Bay (PB) were recommended to provide science-based guidance for oyster reef restoration efforts in response to continued limited productivity of oysters in the Mississippi Sound (MSS). Two-way nested simulations using ROMS within COAWST modeling framework have been run with improved forcings to analyze circulation, salinity and temperature variability within and around the lease areas under the extreme freshwater inflow from Bonnet Carré Spillway (BCS) openings and local rivers in 2019. High-resolution atmospheric forcing data is crucial because diurnal sea-land breeze affects salinity variability by increasing the vertical mixing and affecting shelf water intrusion in the MSS. Oyster lease areas are affected differently under high and low freshwater inflow conditions depending on the mean circulation variability at StLB and PB regions in response to the combined effects of different forcings i.e., high freshwater inflow from BCS and local rivers, winds, shelf water intrusion on different timescales i.e., hourly, daily, bi-weekly, seasonal. Oyster leases near StLB show more criticality (vulnerability) under low salinity conditions than the leases near PB which shows criticality (vulnerability) in terms of low salinity conditions during spring and summer and high salinity conditions during fall. This study identified suitable and critical (vulnerable) locations for potential oyster reef productivity in the MSS considering the fair condition ranges of temperature and salinity for oyster spat age class. This eventually helps the policymakers and stakeholders to find suitable locations for oyster reefs under changing climate.
Copyright
Shihab Hossain Saran, 2024
Recommended Citation
Saran, Shihab Hossain, "Understanding The Variability Of Circulation And Water Quality At Experimental Oyster Leases In The Mississippi Sound Using A High-Resolution Nested Modeling Approach" (2024). Master's Theses. 1050.
https://aquila.usm.edu/masters_theses/1050