Weighted Mean Salinity from Delft3D FM Simulations for the Mississippi River Delta

Weighted average salinity outputs from two 31-day Delft3D Flexible Mesh simulations representing low and high discharge seasons in the Mississippi River Delta. The dataset, produced by ORNL_CLOUD and published via NASA EarthData, models conditions from fall and spring 2021. Data is provided in netCDF format, with each model's contribution weighted by the probability density function of Atchafalaya River discharge.

Use Cases

• Analyze spatial patterns of weighted_mean_salinity across the model grid to map saltwater intrusion during different discharge seasons.
• Compare salinity values from the final_time_step of the low_discharge (fall 2021) and high_discharge (spring 2021) simulations to assess seasonal variability.
• Validate or calibrate other hydrodynamic models using the provided salinity data derived from the Delft3D FM framework.
• Study the influence of Atchafalaya_River_discharge probability on coastal salinity by applying the dataset's weighting methodology.

Strengths

• Data integrates two distinct model simulations representing key seasonal discharge conditions (low and high).
• Each simulation was run for a 31-day period, providing a stable model output for analysis.
• Salinity values are derived from a recognized hydrodynamic model (Delft3D Flexible Mesh).

Limitations

• Analysis excludes a 1-day model warm-up period, which may omit initial transient conditions.
• Dataset size, row count, and specific spatial resolution are unknown from the description.
• Temporal coverage is limited to two specific seasons in 2021, not a continuous long-term record.

Provenance

Source

ORNL_CLOUD, distributed via NASA EarthData.

Collection Method

Derived from Delft3D Flexible Mesh (FM) hydrodynamic model simulations, with salinity values calculated via a weighted average based on Atchafalaya River discharge probability.

Time Range

Spring 2021 (high discharge) and Fall 2021 (low discharge) seasons.

Freshness

Data reflects conditions from 2021 and was last updated in September 2021.

Geography

Mississippi River Delta (MRD), Louisiana, USA.