Observations of estuarine salt intrusion dynamics during a prolonged drought event in the Rhine‐Meuse Delta

This study shows that the salt intrusion length mainly depends on the Rhine River discharge. Water level variations associated with storm surges contribute to shortterm variations in salt intrusion length. However, the tidal variations, caused by the spring‐neap cycle do not alter the tidally averaged salt intrusion length. Side branches behave differently from the main river, and their salt intrusion length mainly depends on the downstream salinity. The findings highlight the importance of understanding how
forcing conditions influence salt intrusion in a complex, branched delta.