Field investigation of suspended sediment transport study in the Kandla creek, Gujarat, India

Abstract

ABSTRACT The formation of shoals, leading to a reduction in the required depth for navigation, is a perennial problem in approach channels of harbours and estuaries. Likewise, this is a major obstacle to the navigation of larger vessels to the study area reported in this paper . A field study on Kandla creek estuary was conducted to assess the flow and sediment dynamics inside the creek where one of the major ports of India, Deendayal Port, is located. In-situ water and sediment sampling and discharge measurements were carried out for the pre-monsoon, end of the monsoon and post-monsoon seasons in 2019–2020. Further, the grain size analysis and total suspended sediment analysis were done from the collected samples. The results highlight the domination of strong ebb currents in pre-monsoon and flood currents at the end of the monsoon and post-monsoon in the creek, which influences the sediment transport proportionately. The present paper reports the sediment characteristics and the estimated net sediment transport through measurements along with flow characteristics in Kandla creek. The field data presented here will support the researchers in the numerical modeling and validation of hydrodynamics and morphodynamics in the estuaries.