Sediment Transport In Estuaries Research Articles

Characteristics and Mechanisms of Spring Tidal Mixing and Sediment Transport in a Microtidal Funnel-Shaped Estuary

Information about estuarine mixing and its control of sediment transport is crucial to elucidating the dynamics and evolution of estuaries. Here, the microtidal and funnel-shaped Zhenhai Estuary, located in the southwestern Pearl River Delta of China, is used to investigate the characteristics and mechanisms of water mixing and sediment transport based on observations from three spring tides. The results reveal that the studied estuary remains well mixed during spring tides from 2013–2022 despite its microtidal regime. Tidal stirring, which is enhanced by tidal energy convergence and benefits from the funnel-shaped geometry and shallow bathymetry, favors vertical mixing, contributing to the formation of strong mixing in the estuary. Due to the well-mixed regime, sediment transport in the estuary is dominated by the advective term, followed by a moderate tidal pumping term and minor estuarine circulation term. Accordingly, sediments within the estuary tend to be transported landward owing to the regulation of the funnel-shaped geometry, and a gradual but slow infilling trend is predictable. This paper deepens our understanding of hydrodynamics and sediment transport in microtidal estuaries.

Development of a Spectrum-Based Scheme for Simulating Fine-Grained Sediment Transport in Estuaries

Fine-grained cohesive sediments in estuaries play a critical role in sediment transport and biogeochemical cycles in estuaries. Due to the convergence of marine saltwater and freshwater runoff, combined with periodic tidal cycles, fine-grained sediments exhibit intricate flocculation processes that are challenging to simulate. A size-resolved flocculation module using a bin-based scheme aids in modeling these processes but is hindered by high computational costs. In this study, we develop a new spectrum-based scheme based on the spectral shape of floc size distribution from the original bin-based scheme to expedite modeling execution. This new scheme is implemented in the Stony Brook Parallel Ocean Model (sbPOM) and applied to simulate fine-grained sediment transport in the Hudson River estuary. The effectiveness of this spectrum-based scheme is assessed by comparing its simulations with observations and results from the original bin-based scheme. The findings indicate that the new scheme can simulate the evolution of suspended sediment concentration well at a specific point by comparisons with in-situ observations. Specifically, the results of the 50 paired experiments show an average percentage difference of 1.86% and an average speedup ratio of 4.51 times compared to the original bin-based scheme. In summary, the new spectrum-based scheme offers significant acceleration benefits for the size-resolved flocculation module and has the potential for widespread application in simulating fine-grained sediments in estuaries.

Transverse variability of residual currents, sediment fluxes, and bed level changes in estuaries with an estuarine dam: Role of estuarine type, dam location, and discharge interval

Estuarine dams are constructed in estuaries for reasons such as freshwater, flood control, and navigation. By changing tidal and river properties, estuarine dams can change the circulation and sediment transport in estuaries. Previous studies have investigated the along-channel changes in flow and sediment transport, however across-channel changes due to an estuarine dam are not well understood. To increase our understanding, this study analyzed an idealized estuary using the COAWST numerical modeling system. Models of strongly stratified, partially mixed, periodically stratified, and well-mixed estuaries were run for one year. Then, the models were subject to the construction of an estuarine dam and run for another year. For each estuarine type, scenarios with an estuarine dam at x = 20, 55, and 90 km from the mouth and freshwater discharge intervals of Δt = 0.5, 3, and 7 days were investigated, and the scenarios were compared. The results indicated that the river-dominated and tide-dominated estuaries behaved differently. In river-dominated estuaries, the residual circulation tended to be inflow in the channel and outflow over the shoals due to the estuarine exchange flow, and the secondary circulation was bottom divergent due to differential advection. The exchange flow and secondary circulation were found to weaken with longer discharge interval. The sediment fluxes in the channel were dominant, and, despite the weaker exchange flow, were found to be greater and directed seaward due to strong dam discharge for long discharge intervals. In tide-dominated estuaries, the residual circulation tended to be inflow over the shoals and outflow in the channel due to the tide-induced circulation, and the secondary flow was bottom convergent due to differential advection resulting from Stokes return flow. As the estuarine dam was located nearer to the mouth, the tide-induced circulation was replaced with exchange flow, and the secondary flow became bottom divergent. The sediment fluxes in the channel were dominant in this case as well, and were determined by tidal asymmetry from the interaction of the tides with the residual current, becoming directed landward as the seaward tide-induced circulation decreased with the estuarine dam near the mouth. With respect to bed level change, gradients in along-channel sediment fluxes were found to contribute most to bed level change near the mouth and estuarine dam, whereas gradients in across-channel sediment fluxes contributed most to deposition on the estuarine shoals. This study demonstrates that estuarine dam location and discharge interval can alter estuarine transverse variability and improves our understanding compared to previous analyses based solely on along-channel processes.

Applicability of Sun’s Empirical Relations for Non-Uniform Sediment in Jiaojiang Estuaries, Zhejiang, China

The numerical simulation of non-uniform sediment transport under tidal flow in estuaries is a complicated, yet important, issue in Zhejiang estuaries. In this paper, a depth-averaged two-dimensional (2D) mathematical model for non-uniform sediment transport in estuaries is established and applied in Zhejiang tidal estuaries based on several newly derived formulas by Zhlin Sun et al. The model is validated using data from several experiments, including an aggradation test and an erosion test. Good performance in the tests indicates that the present model can simulate aggradation and erosion processes of non-uniform sediment. The model is also verified by observational data from the Jiaojiang estuary, and calculations agree well with measurements. The model is thus adaptable to simulating flow and non-uniform sediment transport in tidal estuaries.

Morphology of estuarine bedforms, Weser Estuary, Germany

AbstractLarge bedforms (dunes) are present in many shallow‐water environments. Knowledge of their dimensions and dynamics is required for river and coastal management. In tidal rivers and estuaries, the interaction among hydrodynamics (which results from the action of river and tidal flows), sediment transport and bedform shape and size is complex. In the present study, the distribution and morphology of bedforms in the Weser Estuary, Germany, were investigated. Bedforms were identified in bathymetric data of monthly multibeam echosounder surveys along the navigation channel during the years 2009 to 2013. Their size and shape were characterized. Bedforms were present along most of the channel, except at the position of the estuarine turbidity maximum and where dredging is carried out. Average bedform length varied between 20 and 60 m and bedform height between 0.3 and 1.6 m. Bedform asymmetry varied spatially and temporally along the estuary. In times of high river discharge, bedforms were generally more ebb‐asymmetric than in times of low discharge. The bedforms were predominantly two‐dimensional low‐angle dunes with their steepest slope situated near the bedform crest. A significant proportion of bedforms possessed a steep face (portion of the lee side steeper than 15°). This implies that they are likely to create flow separation and a turbulent wake, with a strong potential to induce high bedform roughness. However, important variations in steep face area density were noted, both spatially along the estuary and temporally as a function of the tidal phase (ebb or flood) and the seasonal variation in river discharge. The results have wide implications in terms of understanding and modelling hydrodynamics and sediment transport in estuaries.

Roles of advection and sediment resuspension-settling in the turbidity maximum zone of the Changjiang Estuary, China

Understanding mechanisms of suspended sediment transport in estuaries is critical for predicting estuarine geomorphic evolution, managing navigation and fisheries, and monitoring the health of estuarine ecosystems. Yet monitoring suspended sediment transport in estuaries is challenging due to the influences of both riverine and marine processes, and traditional in situ observations cannot directly differentiate contributions of multiple physical processes (e.g., advection and resuspension/settling). Here we investigated the effects of advection and sediment resuspension/settling on suspended sediment transport within the turbidity maximum zone at the South Passage of the Changjiang Estuary. The Changjiang catchment is notable for its long history of intensive human activities including dam construction, which has caused significant geomorphic changes along the river and its estuary. We conducted synchronized hydrodynamic measurements at three monitoring stations along the river channel and imported time series of current velocity and suspended sediment concentration (SSC) at these stations into a simplified, one-dimensional box model to separate in situ SSC into advection- and resuspension/settling-induced components. Our results show that high SSC consisted of a background SSC of 0.93 kg m−3 maintained by advection that contributes to 97.9% of the total average SSC, and a fluctuating SSC controlled by sediment resuspension and settling. The background SSC was higher than the fluctuating SSC at all times, indicating that sediment advection was stronger than local sediment resuspension in the river channel. We compared time series of SSC components, bed-level change and suspended sediment transport rates in the South Passage with previous observations in the nearby subaqueous delta, and found that the South Passage of the Changjiang Estuary experienced net accretion during summer because of the relatively high background SSC maintained by advection of fluvial sediment. In contrast, the subaqueous delta experienced erosion due to strong local sediment resuspension and weak sediment delivery by advection. Our results highlight the spatial variability in the magnitudes of sediment advection and resuspension/settling as key drivers of geomorphic changes of deltas and estuarine channels in response to sediment reduction caused by upstream dam construction.

NONHYDROSTATIC MODELING OF FLOW INTERACTIONS WITH HIGHLY FLEXIBLE VEGETATION

Improving our understanding of the interactions between gravity waves, currents, and coastal vegetation, which are nonlinear in nature, enables coastal engineers and managers to better estimate hydrodynamic forces on coastal infrastructure and utilize natural elements to mitigate their impacts. Aquatic vegetation is ubiquitous in coastal waters and it is well-known that flow loses energy over vegetation. Computational modeling of wave-vegetation interaction has been the subject of numerous recent studies and many improvements have been achieved in reducing limitations applied on wave and vegetation behavior in these models. Mechanisms for highly flexible vegetation have been incorporated in a Boussinesq-type model and Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) models. Flow dynamics over flexible vegetation and vegetation dynamics in response to hydrodynamic forcing are important for predicting wave and surge dissipation by vegetation, storm impacts on vegetation canopies, ecological processes, and sediment transport in estuaries, and require further investigation. In this study, we implement a numerical model for highly flexible vegetation in an open-source RANS model NHWAVE to address some of these questions.Recorded Presentation from the vICCE (YouTube Link): https://youtu.be/oAwb8nu4RSs

Modeling of tidal circulation and sediment transport near tropical estuary, east coast of India

Estuarine hydrodynamics is a key factor for altering the inlet and its adjacent morphodynamics. Sediment transport in estuaries is controlled by the hydrodynamic action of wind, wave, tide, currents and river runoff. Sediment transport rate near a tropical estuary i.e., Rushikulya, east coast of India was assessed based on field surveys carried out during 2008 and 2009, covering both southwest and northeast monsoon wind field. A depth-averaged two-dimensional model was used to simulate and estimate sediment transport through a validated hydrodynamic and wave model output. The total sediment load, transport direction and bed level changes were estimated using Mike 21 Sediment Transport (ST) model. During the northeast monsoon, the sediment transport on the south varied from 2 × 10−6 to 6 × 10−6m3/s/m while at north of the inlet, it was constant with a value of 2 × 10−6m3/s/m and transport direction ranges from 330 to 350° at south and 280 to 320° at north. During southwest monsoon, the sediment load ranged from 2 x 10−6 to 2 x 10−5 m3/s/m and transport directions are mostly confined to 100°. Beach profiles and shoreline position confirm the onshore–offshore​ sediment transport. The work provides baseline information, can be used for management to protect the world-famous Olive Ridley nesting beaches, adjacent to the Rushikulya estuary, east coast of India.

In-situ study of the spatiotemporal variability of sediment erodibility in a microtidal estuary

Seabed erosion is a vital process for sediment transport in estuaries and coasts. In this study, we investigated the seabed erosion process and its spatiotemporal variability in the Pearl River Estuary, China, via in-situ observations and laboratory experiments. It is found that the seabed was more erodible in the channel than at the shoal in most cases due to the difference in sediment size. In a neap-spring-neap tidal cycle, a laminated seabed with different sediment ages was inferred to form due to deposition on flood tides and erosion on ebb tides. The seabed was more erodible during spring tides than neap tides because of the difference in sediment availability at the unconsolidated fresh layer. Furthermore, the erosion curve showed evident flood-ebb asymmetry, which was found to be related to the variations of sediment availability and bottom stress. Besides, erosion experiments with different sediment consolidations revealed that sediment erodibility decreased with the growth of consolidation. This study promotes our understanding on the spatiotemporal variability of sediment erodibility, and has significant implications for simulation and prediction of estuarine sediment transport and morphological evolution.

Critical transitions in suspended sediment dynamics in a temperate meso-tidal estuary

There is growing consensus that human interventions can fundamentally change fine sediment transport in estuaries. Critical transitions in response to human interventions have been hypothesized based on indirect observational evidence and theoretical understanding. So far direct evidence has been lacking. Based on a 20 year data-set of surface suspended particulate matter (SPM) concentrations, we present empirical evidence of critical transitions in a temperate meso-tidal estuary. In 2008–2009 the SPM dynamics of the Scheldt estuary (Belgium/The Netherlands) changed dramatically. Not only did the total amount of sediment in suspension increase, a new maximum turbidity zone (MTZ) at typical winter discharges appeared. At intermediate and low summer discharges the longitudinal distribution of SPM now flickers between two markedly different states. Our data suggest that a range of human interventions (fairway widening and deepening, dredging and dumping activities) set the scene leading to the observed transitions. Moreover the freshwater MTZ in the Scheldt and in its major tributary exhibit an increasing sensitivity towards freshwater discharge, coinciding with water quality improvements. This suggests large scale impacts of changes in eutrophication status on estuarine sediment dynamics. This has largely been a blind spot in morphodynamic research.

Modeling of Water Quality Evolution with Advanced Hydroinformatic Tool. Study Case: Bega Channel Sector

Water quality evolution modeling is very important to predict the changes in surface water quality for water resources and environmental management in the world. Worldwide, in the last decades, hundreds of surface water quality models have been developed. Water quality models based on advanced hydroinformatic tools are an efficient way to simulate and predict the pollutant transport in water courses, lakes and reservoirs, which can contribute to saving the cost of labors and materials for a large number of sampling and chemical experiments to determine the degree of pollution of water bodies. Surface water quality models are useful tools to simulate and predict the levels, distributions, and risks of chemical pollutants in a given water body, in different scenarios of pollution (point source, distributed source and accidentally pollution). The modeling results from these models are very important components of environmental impact assessment and can provide a basis and a technique support for specialists from the water resources and environmental management authorities to make the right decisions. For the case study, we use MIKE11 advanced hydroinformatic tool. MIKE11, part of the DHI software products, is a professional engineering software package for the simulation of flows, water quality and sediment transport in estuaries, rivers, irrigation systems, channels and other water bodies. MIKE11 is a user-friendly, fully dynamic, one-dimensional modeling tool for the detailed analysis, design, management and operation of both simple and complex river and channel systems. The used modules for modeling are Hydrodynamic Module and ECOLab module. The case study was realized on Bega channel sector (city of Timisoara – state border with Serbia), Timis county, Romania.

Development of a new multiphase sediment transport model for free surface flows

Modeling of sediment transport in estuaries and coastal areas requires a lot of compromises to keep the computational costs within acceptable limits. Due to that, existing sediment transport models do not account for particle-scale physics, e.g. particle-particle interaction and turbulence modulation by sediment, which play a significant role, especially in the non-dilute regime. In the current study, a newly developed physics-based sediment transport model for free surface flows and its numerical implementation within the OpenFOAM framework is introduced. The new model is based on the multiphase mixture theory to account for interactions between sediment and water while tracking the free surface at the same time. A modified VOF equation for sediment-laden free surface flow was derived and implemented. The interphase momentum transfer is considered by solving an additional closure for the slip velocity which includes the effects of drag force, turbulent dispersion, and shear-induced diffusion. Dense granular flow rheology is used to supply the required closures for particle stresses. Additionally, suitable closures for the mixture and turbulent viscosities are introduced. The model was validated using experimental data and analytical solutions of five test cases of variable complexity. This includes pure sedimentation, laminar bedload transport, turbulent sheet flow, local scour due to a submerged jet, and wave-induced scour under a submarine pipeline.

Impact of a water–sediment regulation scheme on the hydrodynamics and sediment conditions in the Sheyang Estuary

Tidal asymmetry (i.e., unequal ebb and flood intensities and durations) is a dominant factor in the dynamic equilibrium of current-related sediment transport in estuaries. The evolution of estuarine tides and sediment transport is of great importance to the development and utilization of channels in estuaries. Based on field hydrological and sedimentological data collected over multiple years, the hydrodynamic characteristics, suspended sediment concentration (SSC) and grain size, and median grain size of seabed sediments were analyzed to investigate the effects of the construction of a water–sediment regulation scheme (WSRS) in the Sheyang Estuary in China. Our results showed that small grain sizes (fine sand, silt, and clay) dominated and that suspension was the dominant transport mechanism in the area where tidal asymmetry was greatest. Tidal distortion occurred due to the construction of the WSRS. In this flood-dominant system (i.e., before and after the construction of phase I of the WSRS), the flood current velocity was significantly greater than the ebb current velocity, while it also had a shorter duration that caused higher SSCs during the flood current. This likely induced net sediment import to the estuary, which was the main cause of estuary infilling. Furthermore, the net transport of sediment into the estuary caused by the high flood current velocities resulted in the gradual deposition of sediments in the shipping channel of Sheyang Port. Ebb-dominant conditions (i.e., after the construction of phase II of the WSRS) induced net sediment export from the estuary, and sedimentation was significantly reduced. Since the ebb–flood current velocity ratio (Rv) and ebb–flood mean SSC ratio (Rs) could reflect tidal asymmetry and the direction of residual sediment transport with and without the WSRSs, they were used as important and sensitive indices to investigate hydraulic and sedimentological conditions. Results from this study can be used to improve the monitoring and management of navigation channels by providing insights into new methods of preventing or reducing sediment deposition in estuarine channels (i.e., by employing Rv and Rs).

Effects of Density‐Driven Flows on the Long‐Term Morphodynamic Evolution of Funnel‐Shaped Estuaries

AbstractSubtidal flows driven by density gradients affect the tide‐averaged sediment transport in estuaries and, therefore, can influence their long‐term morphodynamic evolution. The three‐dimensional Coupled Ocean‐Atmosphere‐Wave‐Sediment Transport modeling system is applied to numerically analyze the effects of baroclinicity and Earth's rotation on the long‐term morphodynamic evolution of idealized funnel‐shaped estuaries. The morphodynamic evolution in all the analyzed cases reproduced structures identified in many tide‐dominated estuaries: a meandering region in the fluvial‐tidal transition zone, a tidal maximum area close to the head, and a turbidity maxima region in the brackish zone. As the morphology of the estuaries evolved, the tidal propagation (including its asymmetry), the salinity gradient, and the strength of subtidal flows changed, which reflects the strong bathymetric control of these systems. The comparison with barotropic simulations showed that the three‐dimensional structure of the flow (induced by density gradients) has leading order effects on the morphodynamic evolution. Density gradient‐driven subtidal flows (1) promote near‐bed flood dominance and, consequently, the import of sediment into the estuary, (2) accelerate the morphodynamic evolution of the upper/middle estuary, (3) promote a more concave shape of the upper estuary and reduce the ebb‐tidal delta volume, and (4) produce an asymmetric bathymetry and inhibit the formation of alternate bars that would form under barotropic conditions. This latter effect is the consequence of the combined effect of Earth's rotation and baroclinicity.

Estimation of historic flows and sediment loads to San Francisco Bay, 1849–2011

Summary River flow and sediment transport in estuaries influence morphological development over decadal and century time scales, but hydrological and sedimentological records are typically too short to adequately characterize long-term trends. In this study, we recover archival records and apply a rating curve approach to develop the first instrumental estimates of daily delta inflow and sediment loads to San Francisco Bay (1849–1929). The total sediment load is constrained using sedimentation/erosion estimated from bathymetric survey data to produce continuous daily sediment transport estimates from 1849 to 1955, the time period prior to sediment load measurements. We estimate that ∼55% (45–75%) of the ∼1500 ± 400 million tons (Mt) of sediment delivered to the estuary between 1849 and 2011 was the result of anthropogenic alteration in the watershed that increased sediment supply. Also, the seasonal timing of sediment flux events has shifted because significant spring-melt floods have decreased, causing estimated springtime transport (April 1st to June 30th) to decrease from ∼25% to ∼15% of the annual total. By contrast, wintertime sediment loads (December 1st to March 31st) have increased from ∼70% to ∼80%. A ∼35% reduction of annual flow since the 19th century along with decreased sediment supply has resulted in a ∼50% reduction in annual sediment delivery. The methods developed in this study can be applied to other systems for which unanalyzed historic data exist.

Analysis on residual coarse sediment transport in estuaries

The analytical expression for residual coarse sediment transport of Van de Kreeke and Robaczewska (1993) is extended for estuaries. The major extension concerns the contribution to sediment transport by residual current, which is ignored by Van de Kreeke and Robaczewska (1993). Tidal constituents M0, M2, S2, N2, M4, MS4, MN4, M6, K1 and O1 are used to represent the collinear tidal current. It is shown that interactions of M0 and all tidal constituents contribute to residual sediment transport when M0 is not negligible. Thus, a representative tide based on M2 and its overtides only is not sufficient to drive morphodynamic models in this case. The present analysis also reveals that triad interactions of compound tides with their basic constituents, i.e. MS4 with M2 & S2 and MN4 with M2 & N2, contribute to residual sediment transport, besides interactions of M0 and M2, and of M2 and its even overtides M4 and M6. The extended analytical expression is applied to determine residual sediment transport in the Yangtze Estuary. It is demonstrated that a single representative tide does not exist for morphodynamic models in this case. This conclusion is likely to also apply to other estuaries in which residual flow is not negligible.

3D Numerical Simulation of Current and Sediment Transport in Estuary and Coast

In estuarine and coastal area, due to the colligated function of tide, runoff, wind and wave, suspended sediment profile in main flow direction varies from the inland river. Thus, combined with massive data sets from experiments in flume and observations in field, the study on the profile of concentration of suspended sediment are carried out in the thesis. Finally, 3D numerical model of turbulent sediment is established in estuarine and coastal area to carry out a simulation research on current and sediment movement in Yangtze River estuary.

Numerical Modeling of Suspended Sediment Transport Affected by Tidal Bore in Qiantang Estuary

PAN, C. and HUANG, W., 2010. Numerical modeling of suspended sediment transport in Qiantang River: an estuary affected by tidal bore. Journal of Coastal Research, 26(6), 1123–1132. West Palm Beach (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Study of suspended sediment transport in an estuary affected by tidal bore is important for coastal engineering and management because the tidal bore can cause strong sediment resuspension and scour in shallow waters. Numerical modeling of suspended sediment transport in a natural estuary affected by tidal bore is such a challenging research topic that there are few articles on the subject available in the literature. In this study, a two-dimensional, numerical model was developed to investigate suspended sediment transport induced by a tidal bore. The hydrodynamic component of the model employs the Godunov-type scheme with second-order accuracy in space, which effectively describes the rapid supercritical flow and sharp horizontal pressure gradients of the tidal bore. To preserve balance between the source terms and the internal forces, both the water level–bottom topography formulation (WLTF) method and a special technique for triangular mesh have been applied to solve the source term in the model equations to account for the irregular bottom topography. The wet/dry boundary issue was solved by using the improved exact-Riemann solver on the dry bed. The coupled sediment transport model incorporates more reliable equations from recent publications to characterize the rapid increase of sediment resuspension in the water column. The model test against an analytical solution of convection transport shows that the sharp gradient of scalar transport is satisfactorily estimated in the model simulations. The model in the application has been validated to simulate hydrodynamics and suspended sediment transport affected by a tidal bore in the Qiantang River of China. The results compare well with a time series of observations to characterize the rapid increases of surface elevation, currents, and suspended sediment concentration resulting from the tidal bore. Results of spatial distributions of water levels and currents indicate that the model adequately describes the sharp horizontal gradients of the surface elevation and the tidal currents during the passage of the tidal bore and characterizes the suspended concentrations in the estuary.

Study on Seasonal Variation of Cohesive Suspended Sediment Transport in Estuary of Mahakam Delta by using A Numerical Model

Abstract . A coupled three-dimensional hydrodynamics and sediment transport model of HydroQual, Inc., (2002), ECOMSED, has been used to simulate variation of suspended cohesive sediment transport in Estuary of Mahakam Delta. The simulation results indicate that tides and seasonal variation of river discharges are the main causes of variations in the suspended sediment concentration in this area. A one-year simulation of suspended sediment distribution shows that the suspended cohesive sediment discharge to the Makassar Strait is mainly transported southward, namely through locations of Muara Jawa and Muara Pegah and seems to reach a maximum distance of distribution in January and a minimum one in October. The simulation results also show that river discharges less influence the suspended sediment concentration at Tanjung Bayur, which is located at the tip of the channel in the middle, compared to the other locations. Abstrak . Suatu model kopel tiga dimensi hidrodinamika dan transpor sedimen HydroQual, Inc., (2002), ECOMSED, diterapkan untuk mensimulasi variasi transpor sedimen kohesif melayang di Estuari Delta Mahakam. Hasil simulasi menunjukkan bahwa pasut dan variasi musiman dari debit sungai adalah penyebab utama dari variasi konsentrasi sedimen melayang di daerah ini. Simulasi satu tahun distribusi sedimen melayang memperlihatkan bahwa sedimen kohesif yang memasuki Selat Makassar terutama ditransporkan ke arah selatan melalui Muara Jawa dan Muara Pegah. Jangkauan maksimum dari aliran sedimen memasuki Selat Makassar terjadi pada bulan Januari dan minimum pada bulan Oktober. Hasil simulasi juga menunjukkan bahwa pengaruh debit sungai terhadap konsentrasi sedimen di Tanjung Bayur lebih kecil daripada di lokasi-lokasi yang lain.

Modelling sediment transport processes in macro-tidal estuary

This paper outlines a numerical modeling study to predict the sediment transport processes in a macro-tidal estuary, namely the Mersey Estuary, UK. An integrated numerical model study is conducted to investigate the interaction between the hydrodynamic, morphological and sediment transport processes occurring in the estuary. The numerical model widely used in environmental sediment transport studies worldwide, namely ECOMSED is used to simulate flow and sediment transport in estuary. A wetting and drying scheme is proposed and applied to the model, which defines “dry” cells as regions with a thin film of fluid O (cm). The primitive equations are solved in the thin film as well as in other regular wet cells. A model for the bed load transport is included in the code to account for the dynamics of the mobile bed boundary. The bed evolution due to bed load transport which is calculated according to van Rijn (1984a) is obtained by solving the sediment mass-balance equation. An estuary-related laboratory flume experiment is used to verify the model. Six sets of field measured hydrodynamic data are used to verify the corresponding predictions of the model, with the model-predicted water elevations and salinity levels generally agreeing well with the field measurements. The numerical model results show that in the Mersey Estuary both the tidal level and river discharge affect significantly the sediment transport. Reasonable agreement between the model results and field data has been obtained, indicating that the model can be used as computer-based tool for the environment management of estuarine system.