Suspended Sediment Concentration Profiles From Synoptic Satellite Observations

Abstract

A method is developed to estimate vertical suspended sediment concentration (SSC) profiles in Gulf of Kachchh, from the sediment concentration values derived from synoptic observations of Ocean Colour Monitor (OCM). Under the influence of currents, vertical SSC profiles are defined by power law being based on the frictional velocities and sediment settling velocities. For each water pixel in OCM, the vertical variations in SSC are determined from the SSC profiles calculated from power law using corresponding simulated frictional velocities and sediment size parameters. OCM derived SSC is considered to be summation of sediment concentration values from surface to first attenuation depth (hereafter OCM-depth) with an exponential decay of values with depth. Vertical variation profiles from surface to OCM-depth are scaled with respect to the corresponding OCM SSC values and the projected concentrations at the bottom are derived. The bottom concentrations derived is observed to vary chiefly with the tidal conditions prevailing within the gulf, when during the slack hours increase in bottom SSC values get enhanced owing to the settling of sediments from suspension.