Print Email Facebook Twitter Seasonal variation of floc population influenced by the presence of algae in the Changjiang (Yangtze River) Estuary Title Seasonal variation of floc population influenced by the presence of algae in the Changjiang (Yangtze River) Estuary Author Deng, Z. (TU Delft Coastal Engineering; East China Normal University) He, Qing (East China Normal University) Chassagne, C. (TU Delft Environmental Fluid Mechanics; Deltares) Wang, Zhengbing (TU Delft Coastal Engineering; East China Normal University; Deltares) Date 2021 Abstract The variation of the floc population in the Changjiang Estuary has been studied for both winter and summer season as a function of the presence of living (micro)algae. The influence of algae has been characterized through the use of the chlorophyll-a concentration to suspended sediment concentration (CC/SSC) ratio. Two whole tidal cycle sampling campaigns were carried out and a full set of parameters (particle size distribution, particle concentration, salinity, velocities, chlorophyll-a concentration) was recorded as function of time for 6 vertical depths. It is found that the floc population can be described by three particle classes. The two most dynamic classes (microflocs and macroflocs) co-exist in the water column. It was nonetheless found, due to the correlation between CC/SSC and particle sizes that the system is at steady state, both in summer and in winter. This can be explained by the limited flocculation ability between the classes due to their segregation in the water column. In winter, macroflocs are found at the top of the water column but their amount and size are very reduced with a mean CC/SSC value of 13 ± 11 μg g−1. In summer, algae-rich macroflocs are abundant at the top of the water column with a mean CC/SSC value of 21 ± 18 μg g−1, especially at flood tide. Microflocs, on the other hand, have a higher density and are generally found deeper in the water column. At high water slack, both macroflocs and microflocs will settle but will never catch-up. The fact that the flocs are at steady-state in terms of flocculation is of importance for sediment transport modelling. Subject AlgaeChangjiang EstuaryFloc sizeFlocculationParticle size distributionSeasonal variationTidal variationYangtze Estuary To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:7f36fa70-2bbf-41f0-9d84-e8fd08ed592d DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.margeo.2021.106600 Embargo date 2023-08-18 ISSN 0025-3227 Source Marine Geology, 440 Bibliographical note Accepted Author Manuscript Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2021 Z. Deng, Qing He, C. Chassagne, Zhengbing Wang Files PDF Seasonal_variation_of_flo ... i_Deng.pdf 2.5 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:7f36fa70-2bbf-41f0-9d84-e8fd08ed592d/datastream/OBJ/view