Sediment Transport at Density Fronts in Shallow Water
Abstract
The goal of this research is to quantify through observations and modeling how density fronts in shallow estuarine flows impact the mobilization, redistribution, trapping, and deposition of suspended sediment. The objectives of this research program are to - implement a high-resolution, 3-dimensional, finite-volume hydrodynamic model of tidal flats field site including advanced sediment transport algorithms, - integrate and test a set of field instruments to measure density, velocity, and suspended sediment concentration at density fronts in shallow water (< 1 m), - characterize flow and suspended sediment at a density front through the tidal inundation cycle as it travels across the intertidal zone, and - combine the observations and model results to (1) quantify sediment suspension, trapping, and circulation at the front, (2) determine effects of frontal sediment transport on the net sediment fluxes in shallow estuarine settings, and (3) evaluate and improve the sediment transport model.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA557221
Entities
People
- David K Ralston
Organizations
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution