Suspended Sediment and Hydrodynamics Above Mildly Sloped Long Wave Ripples

Abstract

We investigate the spatial and temporal distribution of suspended sediment and the associated hydrodynamics over mildly sloped long wave ripples on the inner shelf. These bedforms had wavelengths of approximately 1 m and heights of approximately 5 cm, in a mean water depth of 4 m. The vertical and temporal structures of the suspended sediment concentration (SSC) are consistent with the entrainment of sediment on the offshore flank of the ripple, and rapid vertical mixing at the time of flow reversal, followed by advection onshore by the onshore fluid motion. This work confirms that the mechanism for sediment suspension above low-amplitude, long wave ripples is similar to the vortex formation process expected over steeper vortex ripples.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 30, 2004
Accession Number
ADA496663

Entities

People

  • Daniel M. Hanes
  • Yeon S. Chang

Organizations

  • Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Boundary Layer
  • Coastal Engineering
  • Engineering
  • Fluid Flow
  • Frequency
  • Froude Number
  • Hydrodynamics
  • Instrumentation
  • Kinetic Energy
  • Layers
  • Marine Geology
  • Measurement
  • Research Facilities
  • Sedimentation
  • Sediments
  • Shear Stresses
  • Suspended Sediments

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science / Meteorology, specifically Wind Wave Turbulence.
  • Coastal Oceanography