Modelling the transport and fate of buoyant macroplastics in coastal waters

As a result of the unabated growth in plastic usage worldwide, their abundance in the marine environment has steadily increased over the last few decades. Nowadays, plastic litter is observed across all oceans and shores. Due to their wide spread and adverse effects on ecology, economy and potentially human health, plastic pollution has been...

Flow over and around submerged groynes: Numerical modelling and analysis of a groyne flume experiment

In submerged conditions groynes add resistance to a river, thereby increasing the water levels for a particular discharge. Groynes are modelled in two ways, either they are included in the bed topography when the grid resolution is sufficiently high or with a sub-grid parametrisation when the grid cell-size is larger than the geometry of the...

Modelling of Grain Sorting Mechanisms in the Nearshore Area for Natural and Nourished Beaches

In this study a modelling approach was investigated that takes into account the effect of short wave grouping on long wave motions, calculating sediment transport and morphology with multiple fractions and a layered bed stratigraphy. After extensive testing and validating this model using data collected in a wave flume in Hannover this model was...

Modelling far-field dredge plume dispersion

By its very nature dredging is an environmental impact, since dredging includes the excavation and/or relocation of sediment in a river, sea or estuary. One of the environmental impacts related to dredging is increased suspended sediment concentration (SSC) levels, forming plumes of sediment. These so called dredge plumes originate from spillage...

Reducing the survival of pathogens in urban water by making optimal use of natural processes

Pathogens are present in our urban water system, and may pose a health risk to swimmers and playing children. Although the knowledge of pathogens has increased over recent years, little is known about their behaviour in the urban water system. The goal of this thesis is to investigate this. First, the behaviour of pathogens under the influence...

Simulating and classifying large-scale spatial sand-mud segregation using a process-based model for a tidal inlet system

Tidal inlet systems, as found in the Dutch Wadden Sea, often feature both sand and mud. Due to differences in sediment properties, sand and mud particles respond different to identical forcing conditions, like short waves and tidal currents. Because of this, sand and mud can get transported to different locations. This process is referred to by...

Process-Based Modelling of the Brent Delta, Gullfaks Area, Norway

With the use of the process-based geological model Delft3D a base case model is set up to simulate the Brent delta using Gullfaks field conditions as appeared during the Aalenian and Bajocian periods in the Mid-Jurassic. The aim is to visualize and comprehend the morphology and stratigraphy of the base case upon changing both wave conditions and...

Modelling of Cohesive Sediment Transportation, Deposition and Resuspension in the Haringvliet Mouth.

In the Dutch coastal zone, where the marine environment is characterized by shallow depths and highly energetic hydrodynamic conditions, the cohesive sediments, or mud, play an important role in the local morphology. For instance, mud deposits and high concentrations of suspended particulate matter (SPM) occur frequently, especially during...