Print Email Facebook Twitter Feedback Effects of Sediment Suspensions on Transport Mechanisms in an Estuarine Turbidity Maximum Title Feedback Effects of Sediment Suspensions on Transport Mechanisms in an Estuarine Turbidity Maximum Author Zhu, C. (TU Delft Coastal Engineering; Shanghai Estuarine and Coastal Science Research Center) van Maren, D.S. (TU Delft Environmental Fluid Mechanics; Shanghai Estuarine and Coastal Science Research Center; Deltares) Guo, Leicheng (Shanghai Estuarine and Coastal Science Research Center) Lin, J. (TU Delft Coastal Engineering; Shanghai Estuarine and Coastal Science Research Center) He, Qing (Shanghai Estuarine and Coastal Science Research Center) Wang, Zhengbing (TU Delft Coastal Engineering; Shanghai Estuarine and Coastal Science Research Center; Deltares) Date 2022 Abstract The mechanisms controlling the formation of an estuarine turbidity maximum (ETM) in estuaries have been extensively investigated, but one aspect that has received much less scientific attention is the role of high suspended sediment concentrations in combination with tidal asymmetry in ETM formation. Particularly in highly turbid estuaries, sediment suspensions influence ETM development through a combination of horizontal sediment-induced density currents, a reduction in turbulent mixing, and water-bed exchange processes. In this study, we developed a schematic model resembling the Yangtze Estuary where the ETM is controlled by tidal pumping, estuarine circulation, and advection operating simultaneously. Model results suggest that high water slack tide asymmetry with Sediment-induced density effects (SedDE) favors landward migration of the ETM. In addition, without SedDE, stronger flood tidal dominance leads to more pronounced sediment trapping through tidal pumping. Depending on the type of tidal asymmetry, SedDE strengthen ETM growth by increasing estuarine circulation but may also lead to increased or reduced sediment concentration in the ETM due to enhanced or weakened landward tidal pumping, respectively. Higher near-bed sediment concentrations as a result of water-bed exchange processes, in turn, strengthen the effect of estuarine circulation but simultaneously strengthen the divergence of sediment by tidal pumping. Overall, the SedDE and higher near-bed sediment concentration, in combination with tidal asymmetry, play an important role in ETM formation and should be properly accounted for in studies on ETM dynamics in turbid estuaries. Subject estuarine circulationestuarine turbidity maximumfine sedimentstidal asymmetrytidal pumpingwater-bed exchange To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:bb1a678c-832d-45ec-afeb-49b273783495 DOI https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JC018029 Embargo date 2022-12-02 ISSN 2169-9275 Source Journal Of Geophysical Research-Oceans, 127 (6) Bibliographical note Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository 'You share, we take care!' - Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public. Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2022 C. Zhu, D.S. van Maren, Leicheng Guo, J. Lin, Qing He, Zhengbing Wang Files PDF JGR_Oceans_2022_Zhu_Feedb ... bidity.pdf 2.75 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:bb1a678c-832d-45ec-afeb-49b273783495/datastream/OBJ/view