Interactive comment on “ Seasonal , Spring-Neap and Tidal Variation of Hydrodynamics and Water Constituents in the Mouth of the Elbe Estuary , Germany ” by Jens Kappenberg et al

I thank you for your comments on our manuscript. I generally agree with you that the purpose of the measurements at this site remains somewhat obscure. The main reason is that HPA initiated measurements on the northern wadden area (Neufelder Watt) some years before and in some way wanted to complete the general picture. The site is peculiar and I think no additional basic knowledge concerning estuarine processes can be gained from the time-series. A chance has been missed to install instruments (like ADCPs, sensor chains) which allow to study the vertical structure of the water column on a long-term basis. So the added value to the routine measurements at C1


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Printer-friendly version Discussion paper tively water temperature and oxygen saturation and the tidal average of the measured values are shown for 2012 and 2013.The comparison with the transect measurements of salinity and suspended particulate matter concentration respectively water temperature and dissolved oxygen saturation allows to compare the point measurements for several specific dates with the distribution along the estuary.The position of the mixing zone MZ and the estuarine turbidity maximum ETM are important for the understanding time series of the point measurements.
The measurements of salinity and turbidity and the tidal average of the measured values are shown for the neighbouring stations LZ2 (2012 and 2013) and MPM Otterndorf (2013), too.
All measured datasets are analysed in order to find seasonal, spring-neap and tidal variations of hydrodynamics and water constituents.The length of the time series did not allow for finding seasonal variations.Spring-neap variations were found in the measured water levels, current velocities and salinities.Tidal variations can be found in nearly all measurements.For 28 tides in March and April 2013 averaged time series of current velocity, water level, salinity and turbidity as well as tidal trajectories of the averaged variables are shown for station HPA-Elbe 1.For comparison averaged time series of current velocity and turbidity as well as tidal trajectories of the averaged variables are shown for station LZ2, too.The differences in the patterns observed are described but could not be explained without additional areal information.

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Printer-friendly version Discussion paper

General remarks
This paper gives an overview of measurements at three stations in the mouth of the Elbe during the years 2012 and 2013 describing the observed patterns in the measurements.The aim of the paper should be clarified more precisely.Please explain, why the station HPA-Elbe 1 was positioned in this area, what is the aim of the complex measurements at this position, why did you choose to investigate the variations on different time scales with the data of this station.
The quality of the measurements is not mentioned but should be discussed.The hydrological and meteorological situation should be described in addition to time series of river run off with e.g.time series of wind characteristic for the mouth of the Elbe (at Scharhörn) and time series of water level at the mouth of the Elbe estuary (situation of North Sea).
The measured quantities are presented in elaborated figures.Unfortunately due to the size of the figures it is difficult to detect all details mentioned in the text.
The severe river flood of June 2013 is mentioned in the abstract.All measured data are shown for this period, too.Explaining and analyzing the differences in the parameters measured before, during and after this extreme event should be a main emphasis of section 4. It would be interesting to see the development in time of the tidal trajectories during this period and compare these trajectories with the tidal trajectories of the averaged variables.
The authors hope for a better understanding of the measurements with the help of results from numerical modeling.Please discuss too, what kind of additional measurements could improve the understanding of the existing data, e.g. more stations, more trajectories along the Elbe during specific events, data on cross sections close to existing stations, etc.I suggest a major revision of the paper before publication.