Background physics and biogeochemistry

Abstract

Conservation equations can be formulated for most aquatic properties $(\phi)$; for transient three-dimensional problems, the general differential equation is:

$$\frac{\partial}{\partial t}\phi+U_i\frac{\partial \phi}{\partial x_i}=S_\phi\ {\rm where}\ i\,=\,x,y,z $$

(2.1)

where $\phi$ could be, for example, momentum, temperature, salinity, or oxygen; U _i is velocity with indices indicating components in horizontal and vertical directions; and $S_{\phi}$ is the source/sink term related to the properties considered.