Effects of sediment-induced stratification on floe breakup in an idealized tidal estuary: A numerical modelling study

Abstract

Floe breakup dynamics are studied by a sediment transport numerical model in an idealized tidal estuary that has a constant water depth and rapid flocculation of cohesive sediments. The focus is placed on the effects of boundary layer stratification induced by a bottom nepheloid layer on floe breakup and size distribution in the water column. In a neutrally stratified estuary, the floe size distribution follows a parabolic function with maximum values at the surface and bottom. The sediment-induced stratification in the bottom boundary layer increases the median floe sizes. Furthermore, sediment-voided convection caused by the settling lutocline generates significant turbulent kinetic energy dissipation and reduces floe size at the depth where the convective mixing happens. Below that depth, a weak local maxima in the floe size is predicted due to presence of the lutocline. The effect of sediment-stratified bottom boundary layer on the floe breakup can be consistently approximated by a linear regression between the maximal floe size and flux Richardson number.