LAUSR

Abstract Three independent methods, the dynamical balance (DB) method, the turbulence parameter (TP) method, and the log-layer fit (LF) method, are commonly employed to estimate the bottom stress and bottom drag coefficient in strong tidal systems. However, their results usually differ from each other and the differences are attributed to form drag. Alternatively, some researchers argued that the differences are caused by overestimates in some methods. Aiming to measure the performances of the three independent methods, they were simultaneously constructed in a bay with highly asymmetric tides. The results of the DB and TP methods are consistent with each other in not only the magnitude but also time variation patterns. The consistency of results of the two methods indicates that skin friction is dominant in the bay. The results of the DB and TP methods reveal obvious flood-dominant asymmetry caused by tidal straining. This flood-dominant asymmetry is enhanced during the transition period from spring to neap tide. When the original log-layer fit is employed, the results are much larger than those of the DB and TP methods, and these differences cannot be attributed to form drag since skin friction is dominant in the bay. Moreover, the results of the original log-layer fit reveal an obvious ebb-dominant asymmetry, which is contradictory to the results of the DB and TP methods. Therefore, the results of the original fit are just overestimates and lack physical meaning. By considering the effect of stratification on the mixing length, the modified log-layer fit achieves results with magnitudes that are close to those of the DB and TP methods, indicating that the modified log-layer fit is more representative of the bottom stress than the original log-layer fit in terms of physical meaning. However, the results of the modified log-layer fit still exhibit an ebb-dominant asymmetry in contrast to that of the DB and TP methods, implying that the empirical formula of the mixing length in stratified water is not universally applicable and should be further improved.