Combined effects of waves and tides on bottom sediment resuspension in the southern Yellow Sea

Abstract

A calibrated, coupled model (COAWST) of the Bohai and Yellow Seas was employed to examine the contributions of waves and tides to the sediment transport, and to understand the dynamic factors controlling bottom sediment resuspension around the Shandong Peninsula. The numerical results, which were consistent with the in-situ observations, illustrated two events with large values of suspended sediment concentration (SSC). The two events had similar wave heights, but SSC during the second event was more than twice that of the first one. Numerical experiments indicated that the large values of SSC east of the Shandong Peninsula were mainly ascribed to local resuspension, and that waves played a primary role in sediment resuspension for both high SSC events. The differences in SSC and bottom shear stress between the two events were mainly due to differences in wave period, representing about 65% of the total difference, and the non-linear interactions of wave and currents played a secondary role. Therefore, wave period is an important factor along with wave amplitude in the contribution of waves to sediment resuspension in this region. The combined actions of waves and currents dynamics dominate the sediment resuspension rather than either factor in isolation. Due to sheltering effect by the Shandong Peninsula, the wave effect on sediment resuspension was less to the south of the Peninsula than that to the north and east. In addition, the Shandong Coastal Current was enhanced by the northerly wind leading to more sediment transport southward along the coast of Shandong Peninsula, but this has small effect on the difference of suspended sediment concentration between two storm events.