Effects of Upward Seepage on the Resuspension of Consolidated Silty Sediments in the Yellow River Delta

Abstract

Zhang, S.; Jia, Y.; Lu, F.; Zhang, Y.; Zhang, S., and Peng, Z., 2020. Effects of upward seepage on the resuspension of consolidated silty sediments in the Yellow River Delta. Journal of Coastal Research, 36(2), 372–381. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.Strong seepage flows in coastal zones could significantly change seabed properties, even leading to seepage failure. With respect to the effect of seepage flows on sediment resuspension, available literature has presented conflicting results, indicating that the influence appears to vary for different locations. In the present study, a seepage-scouring, annular flume was designed and employed to evaluate the influence of a sequence of seepage gradients on the resuspension of silts derived from the Yellow River Delta. The experimental results indicated that upward seepage slightly increases the suspended sediment concentration (SSC) level by 4.9–11.1% before the occurrence of seepage failure; however, the occurrence of seepage failure dramatically increases the SSC by at least 64% by pumping massive sediments out of the seabed into the overlying water column. Strong seepage flow and the resultant loss of sediments from the internal seabed are potential mechanisms for the formation of numerous collapse depressions in the Yellow River Delta.