Flow Distribution in the St. Lawrence River System at Wolfe Island, Kingston Basin, Lake Ontario

Determination of the mass output through the St. Lawrence River outflow system is an important component in computing a mass balance of chemical loadings in Lake Ontario. Toward this goal, during 1986 and 1987, a network of self recording current meter moorings were deployed in the main channels of the St. Lawrence River system in Lake Ontario. On two occasions in 1987, detailed Lagrangian experiments were carried out using a cluster of satellite drifters. The time series data from the current meter network and Lagrangian drifter experiments provided the horizontal and vertical distribution of currents that are adequate to compute the distribution of water transport through the St. Lawrence outflow. The flow distribution in the St. Lawrence River at Wolfe Island is approximately 55 percent in the south channel and 45 percent in the north channel. The total flow rate through the St. Lawrence River system from the present study is in good agreement with the direct measurements at the power plant control facilities at Cornwall.