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- Title
Particle Trapping in Stratified Estuaries: Application to Observations.
- Authors
Jay, David A.; Orton, Philip M.; Chisholm, Thomas; Wilson, Douglas J.; Fain, Annika M. V.
- Abstract
Estuarine turbidity maxima (ETM) retain suspended particulate matter (SPM) through advection, settling, aggregation, and nonlinearities in bed processes, but the relative importance of these processes varies strongly between systems. Observations from two strongly advective systems (the Columbia and Fraser Rivers) are used to investigate seasonal cycles of SPM retention and the effects of very high flows. Results for the Fraser and Columbia plus literature values for 13 other estuaries illustrate the applicability of scaling parameters and the response of ETM phenomena to a range of river flow (UR) levels and tidal forcing. The most efficient trapping (represented by Trapping Efficiency E, the ratio of maximum ETM concentration to the source SPM concentration) occurs for low ratios of river flow to tidal current amplitude (UT), represented by low values of the Supply number SR. E in the Columbia is found to be maximal in a null zone where advection or tidal asymmetry (represented by Advection number A) is weak (A∼ 0). The ratio of aggregation to disaggregation (the Floc number eϴ) is maximal on neap tides, while the ratio of erosion to deposition (the Erosion number H) is maximal on spring tides. The ratio of settling velocity to vertical mixing (Rouse number P) is relatively constant in the Columbia ETM (P∼ 0.7), because particle settling velocity and turbulence levels adjust together. Assuming that this result applies broadly, scaling variables and data are combined to express ETM properties in terms of the friction velocity (U•), UR, and UT, allowing a considerable simplification of the parameters used to describe ETM.
- Subjects
FRASER River (Colo.); COLORADO; COLUMBIA River; SUSPENDED sediments; PARTICULATE matter; ESTUARIES; TURBIDITY; SEASONS
- Publication
Estuaries & Coasts, 2007, Vol 30, Issue 6, p1106
- ISSN
1559-2723
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/BF02841400