A modeling study of the Satilla River estuary,Georgia. I: Flooding-drying process and water exchange over the salt marsh-estuary-shelf complex

The flooding-drying process over the intertidal zone of the Satilla River estuary of Georgia was examined using a three-dimensional (3-D) primitive equations numerical model with Mellor and Yamada's (1982) level 2.5 turbulent closure scheme. The model was forced by the semi-diurnal M₂, S₂, and N₂ tides and freshwater discharge at the upstream end of the estuary. The intertidal salt marsh was treated using a 3-D wet-dry point treatment technique that was developed for the σ-coordinate transformation estuary model. Good agreement was found between model-data comparison at anchor monitoring sites and also along the estuary that suggested that the model provided a reasonable simulation of the temporal and spatial distribution of the 3-D tidal current and salinity in the Satilla River estuary. Numerical experiments have shown that the flooding-drying process plays a key role in the simulation of tidal currents in the main river channel and in water transport over the estuarine-salt marsh complex. Ignoring this process could lead to a 50% under-estimation of the amplitude of tidal currents. The model results also revealed a complex spatial structure of the residual flow in the main channel of the river, with characteristics of multiple eddy-like cell circulations. These complicated residual currents are formed due to tidal rectification over variable topography with superimposition of inertial effects, asymmetry of tidal currents, and baroclinic pressure gradients. Water exchanges over the estuary-intertidal salt marsh complex are asymmetric across the estuary, and tend to vary periodically on the northern side while quickly washing out of the marsh zone on the southern side. Strong Stokes’ drifting velocity was predicted in the estuary, so that the Lagrangian trajectories of particles were characterized by strong nonlinear processes that differ significantly from those estimated by the Eulerian residual currents.     

Modeling the transport and distribution of lead in tidal Keelung River estuary

A vertical, two-dimensional heavy metal (lead) transport model incorporated into the hydrodynamic, salt, and sediment transport modules was developed to simulate the lead concentration in the tidal Keelung River estuary of northern Taiwan. We validated the developed model with measured data, including longitudinal velocity, salinity, suspended sediment, and heavy metal (lead) concentration, obtained in 1998. An exponential relationship relating the salinity and suspended-sediment concentrations was established to calculate the partition coefficient of lead in the estuary. The simulated results of dissolved, particulate, and total lead concentrations agreed well with the measured data. A model sensitivity analysis indicated that the partition coefficient plays an important role in the distribution of dissolved and particulate lead concentrations along the tidal Keelung River estuary.     

Secondary turbidity maximum in a partially mixed microtidal estuary

Data from a two-year period of monthly slackwater surveys reveal that in addition to the classical estuary turbidity maximum (ETM), another peak of bottom total suspended sediment (TSS) concentration, or a so-called secondary turbidity maximum (STM), often exists in the middle part of the York River estuary, Virginia. This STM, observed in most (but not all) of the slackwater surveys, moves back and forth in the region of about 20 to 40 km from the York River mouth where the mud percentage of bottom sediment is very high. The distribution of the potential energy anomaly, which was calculated using salinity data, indicates that the STM usually resides in the transition zone between the upstream well mixed and the downstream more stratified water columns. An analysis using the conservation equation of suspended sediment concentration in the water column reveals that four processes may contribute to the formation of the STM: convergence of bottom residual flow, tidal asymmetry, inhibition of turbulent diffusion by stratification, and bottom resuspension. The along-channel variations of the strength of bottom residual flow, the effect of tidal asymmetry, and the stratification patterns are probably due to the geometric features of the York River estuary.     

长江口南汇东滩水动力条件变化的数值预测

南汇东滩紧邻长江口主要排沙通道南槽而成为泥沙沉降的一个重要部位,为促淤围垦提供了有利的滩地和来沙条件,是上海市规划围垦的重点区域。目前上海已在南汇东滩开始实施围垦工程,围垦工程改变了长江口南汇岸线,也改变了南汇东滩的水动力条件。为了解围垦工程实施后水动力条件的变化,采用二维潮流数学模型模拟南汇东滩促淤围垦工程实施前后流场的变化,探讨围垦工程对邻近水域水动力产生的影响,为预测圈围工程实施后南汇东滩变化提供水动力学依据。     

大凌河口水动力数值模拟分析

采用大凌河实测长系列河道径流及水下地形等数据, 通过建立水动力数值模型, 综合考虑潮流和河道径流的影响, 对大凌河口的潮流进行模拟, 探讨大凌河口及辽东湾北部海域水动力过程的主要特征. 结果表明: 大凌河口附近海域的海流以潮流为主, 具有明显的往复性质. 潮流总的运动趋势是, 涨潮主流向为北东, 落潮主流向为南西. 大潮流速大于小潮流速, 涨潮流历时与落潮流历时几乎相当. 最大涨潮流速约为0.52 m/s, 最大落潮流速约为0.4 m/s, 潮流涨落平均潮流强度的分布大体和该海域等深线相适应.     

Tidal rectification on drying estuarine sandbanks

Drying estuarine sandbanks experience only that part of the tidal cycle around high water. In a partially progressive tidal wave, this means that the duration of the flood over the sandbank will be greater than that of the ebb: a process of tidal rectification. In this paper, we propose the hypothesis that this leads to flood-directed tidal residual currents over drying sandbanks. The hypothesis is tested by observation and a 2-D hydrodynamical model in the Conwy estuary, a vertically well-mixed macrotidal estuary in North Wales. The observations include tide gauge data, tidal cycle boat surveys, and fixed current meter data. The data show weak flood-directed residual currents over a drying sandbank and much stronger ebb-directed residuals in the channels along the sides of the sandbank. The model reproduces the observations in the vicinity of the sandbank and shows that the tidal rectification mechanism produces a general pattern of residual circulation in the estuary, with flood-directed flow in the drying areas and ebb-directed flow in the channels. The flood residuals are most marked near the estuary mouth where the tidal wave is most progressive in nature. The main application of this mechanism is believed to be in the transport of bedload sediment. The flood-directed residuals will tend to move the tops of the sandbanks upstream.     

A model study of turbidity maxima in the York River estuary,Virginia

A three-dimensional numerical model is used to investigate the mechanisms that contribute to the formation of the turbidity maxima in the York River, Virginia (U.S.). The model reproduces the basic features in both salinity and total suspended sediments (TSS) fields for three different patterns. Both the prominent estuary turbidity maximum (ETM) and the newly discovered secondary turbidity maximum (STM) are simulated when river discharge is relatively low. At higher river inflow, the two turbidity maxima move closer to each other. During very high river discharge event, only the prominent turbidity maximum is simulated. Diagnostic model studies also suggest that bottom resuspension is an important source of TSS in both the ETM and the STM, and confirm the observed association between the turbidity maxima and the stratification patterns in the York River estuary. The ETM is usually located near the head of salt intrusion and the STM is often associated with a transition zone between upriver well mixed and downriver more stratified water columns. Analysis of the model results from the diagnostic studies indicates that the location of the ETM is well associated with the null point of bottom residual flow. Convergent bottom residual flow, as well as tidal asymmetry, is the most important mechanisms that contribute to the formation of the STM. the STM often exists in a region with landward decrease of bottom residual flow and net landward sediment flux due to tidal asymmetry. The channel depth of this region usually decreases sharply upriver. As channel depth decreases, vertical mixing increases and hence the water column is better mixed landward of the STM.     

钱塘江河口一维盐度动床预报模型及应用

钱塘江河口为强涌潮、高含沙量、河床冲淤剧烈的河口,其盐度输移时空变化受河床冲淤的反馈影响十分显著。建立了考虑河床冲淤变化的一维盐度动床数学模型,耦合求解水沙运动、河床冲淤及盐度输移过程,数值计算方法采用守恒性较好的有限体积法。验证结果表明:河床冲淤对氯度的影响非常显著,动床模型的结果与实测基本吻合,在长历时盐度预报中采用动床模型是必要的。应用该模型分析了钱塘江河口咸水入侵对上游建库、治江缩窄工程等人类活动的响应,探讨了杭州城市供水水源保证率。结果表明,新安江水库、河口治理缩窄工程对改善河口淡水资源利用、保障杭州市供水安全显著;供水保证率要达95%以上,需采取上游水库泄水调度和新建备用水库等措施。     

长江口动量系数分布特征研究

基于长江口1996年3月和9月共23个测点实测水流资料,计算了动量系数的时空变化,并应用线性回归法,计算了特征时间段内的平均动量系数,获得了长江口动量系数时空分布的基本特征:时间上,涨潮大于落潮,洪季大于枯季,而大、中、小潮则依次递增;空间上,自口外向口内,北支呈逐渐增大,而南支呈先增大后减小、口门附近最大的基本特征.由动量系数分析了潮流的摩阻特性,为数值模拟合理选取曼宁系数提供参考.     

Sediment transport and trapping in the Hudson River estuary

The Hudson River estuary has a pronounced turbidity maximum zone, in which rapid, short-term deposition of sediment occurs during and following the spring freshet. Water-column measurements of currents and suspended sediment were performed during the spring of 1999 to determine the rate and mechanisms of sediment transport and trapping in the estuary. The net convergence of sediment in the lower estuary was approximately 300,000 tons, consistent with an estimate based on sediment cores. The major input of sediment from the watershed occurred during the spring freshet, as expected. Unexpected, however, was that an even larger quantity of sediment was transported landward into the estuary during the 3-mo observation period. The landward movement was largely accomplished by tidal pumping (i.e., the correlation between concentration and velocity at tidal frequencies) during spring tides, when the concentrations were 5 to 10 times higher than during neap tides. The landward flux is not consistent with the long-term sediment budget, which requires a seaward flux at the mouth to account for the excess input from the watershed relative to net accumulation. The anomalous, landward transport in 1999 occurred in part because the freshet was relatively weak, and the freshet occurred during neapetides when sediment resuspension was minimal. An extreme freshet occurred during 1998, which may have provided a repository of sediment just seaward of the mouth that re-entered the estuary in 1999. The amplitude of the spring freshet and its timing with respect to the spring-neap cycle cause large interannual variations in estuarine sediment flux. These variations can result in the remobilization of previously deposited sediment, the mass of which may exceed the annual inputs from the watershed.     

Short-term water quality variability in two tropical estuaries,central Sumatra

We examined high frequency fluctuations in water quality parameters in two tropical coastal plain estuaries in response to changing tidal flow conditions. The variability in total suspended sediments (TSS), volatile suspended solids (VSS), total organic carbon (TOC) concentrations, and indicators of water quality, including pH, temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen, over one spring tidal cycle during the early wet monsoon season was measured in two estuaries in eastern Sumatra. The relatively high rainfall experienced throughout the year, in combination with the recent extensive vegetation clearing and modification of the landscape, resulted in significant concentrations of TSS, VSS, and TOC being discharged to coastal waters. Maximum values are reached on the ebb tide (TSS > 1,013 mg l⁻¹; VSS > 800 mg l⁻¹; TOC >60 mg l⁻¹). The influence of freshwater discharge and tidal flow on water properties of the lower estuaries is also marked by the variability in salinity, dissolved oxygen, and pH over the tidal cycle, with minimum values for each of these parameters following maximum current velocities and after the completion of the strong ebb tide. Estimation of seaward sediment fluxes, which are of significant interest in a region where rapid environmental change is occurring, would require further examination of sedimentary processes, such as resuspension and advection of sediment, as well as a consideration of neap-spring tidal variations and the effect of seasonality on estuarine circulation.     

Spatial, Temporal, and Human-Induced Variations in Suspended Sediment Concentration in the Surface Waters of the Yangtze Estuary and Adjacent Coastal Areas

To delineate temporal and spatial variations in suspended sediment concentration (SSC) in the Yangtze (Changjiang) Estuary and adjacent coastal waters, surface-water samples were taken twice daily from 10 stations over periods ranging from 2 to 12?years (total number of samples >28,000). Synoptic measurements in 2009 showed an increase in surface SSC from 0.058?g/l in the upper sections of the estuary to ??0.6?g/l at the Yangtze River turbidity maximum at the river mouth, decreasing seaward to 0.057?g/l. Annual periodicities reflect variations in the Yangtze discharge, which affect the horizontal distribution and transport of SSC, and seasonal winds, which result in vertical resuspension and mixing. Over the past 10?C20?years, annual surface SSC in the lower Yangtze River and the upper estuary has decreased by 55%, due mainly to dam construction in the upper and middle reaches of the river. The 20?C30% decrease in mean surface SSC in the lower estuary and adjacent coastal waters over the same period presumably reflects sediment resuspension, in part due to erosion of the subaqueous Yangtze Delta. SSCs in the estuary and adjacent coastal waters are expected to continue to decline as new dams are constructed in the Yangtze basin and as erosion of the subaqueous delta slows in coming decades.     

珠江网河水沙分配变化及其对伶仃洋水沙场的影响

采用二维ECOMSED模型对径流来水来沙变化前后的1978年和1999年伶仃洋洪水期水动力场和悬沙场进行模拟,结果表明:伶仃洋水动力场整体增强,但不同地貌单元水动力变化具有明显差异.分流比变化后洪水期伶仃洋西槽、东槽和中滩水动力增强,涨潮和落潮流速普遍增大0.1m/s;西部各口门区和西滩涨潮流势减弱,径流优势更加明显,但西滩三个口门水道及滩面潮沟落潮流速增大约0.1 m/s;东滩水动力特征变化不大.悬沙浓度亦整体升高,平均增加了0.02~0.05 kg/m3,悬沙高值区范围扩大,0.10 kg/m3等值线由西槽西侧明显向东推进到沿东槽南北向分布,径流来沙的影响范围东扩.     

珠江河口沉积物粒度特征及其对底层水动力环境的指示

珠江口伶仃洋及邻近海域沉积物粒级变化大。频率分布曲线形态的变化揭示了珠江河口不同区域泥沙来源的差异。在平面分布上,粗粒级含量从西北部和北部向东南部迅速降低,而细粒级含量高值往往出现在河口中部。表层沉积物平均粒径梯度变化方向与珠江口悬浮物的运移方向大致吻合。反演获得的底层海流不同区域的优势速度与实测资料相符。两者较好地指示了沉积物多年平均优势海流速度和方向,表明利用沉积物粒度数据比较成功地反演出了珠江口沉积物推积前的搬运水动力环境。     

Hydraulic control of grain-size distributions in a macrotidal estuary

The Avon River estuary of Nova Scotia was studied with the intention of analysing the relations between grain-size distributions and hydraulics. The Avon is macrotidal; tidal ranges up to 15·6 m generate tidal currents up to 1·7 m s^?1. Maximum current speed increases from the mouth (seaward end) to the head (shoreward end) of the estuary. Mean grain size decreases from the estuary mouth to the head. Thus, there is an inverse relationship between mean grain size and current speed. Consequently, textural parameters do not directly reflect hydraulic conditions. Graphical dissection of cumulative frequency curves into their component grain populations reveals a large coarse population at the estuary mouth that is absent at the head. There are several relationships between hydraulics and cumulative curves. Shields’ criterion predicts that all sediment in the system can be transported so that the large coarse population at the estuary mouth is not a lag. Local maximum shear velocity nearly equals the settling velocity of the grain size at the boundary of the coarse (C) and intermediate (A) grain populations. This has been previously interpreted to signifiy a transition from traction to intermittent suspension transport, and implies that the C population is a function of traction and that the A population is related to intermittent suspension (Middleton, 1976). Each grain population is transported at a different rate; suspended grains travel almost an order of magnitude faster than grains moved by traction according to Einstein's transport formula. Sediment transport paths in the estuary were determined from bedform migration directions and the computed net sediment transport per tidal cycle using Engelund and Hansen's formula. The areal distribution of the transport paths, combined with the differential transport rates of each grain population, produces hydraulic sorting. Hydraulic sorting causes coarse sediment to be excluded from the estuary head and creates the inverse relationship between current speed and mean grain size.     

黄河口有机碳的时空输运特征及其影响因素分析

通过2004年4月,2004年9月,2005年9月,2006年4月4个航次,结合2003年8月对河道感潮带的连续同步观测,对低流量下黄河口有机碳的输运特征进行了考察。结果发现:黄河输入至河口的悬浮物中颗粒有机碳(POC)含量约为0.51%,主要以陆源输入为主,几乎不受季节变化影响,由于大量POC含量低的陆源泥沙的稀释作用,浮游植物对总颗粒有机碳的贡献只有在悬浮物含量(TSS)<200mg/L时才能显现出来;黄河口TSS超过455mg/L时,有机碳入海以颗粒有机碳为主;反之,以溶解有机碳为主。黄河口悬浮物在低盐度区沉降作用前后的中值粒径降低,Φ>16μm的悬浮物的沉降作用比Φ<16μm的悬浮物更为剧烈,POC含量随悬浮物粒径的降低而升高,黄河携带的颗粒有机碳80%以上集中在Φ<16μm的TSS中;低流量下,黄河口最大混浊带对POC的过滤效率为65%,混浊带对POC的过滤效应能造成黄河口POC的有效通量被高估;由于受黄河口沉积物向水体解析DOC的影响,在盐度小于10时,DOC几乎不受海水稀释作用的影响,但在盐度大于10的区域DOC与盐度表现出良好的负相关关系,黄河口枯、丰水期淡水端溶解有机碳的有效浓度分别高于实测最高值20%和10%左右,从而造成黄河口DOC有效通量被低估。     

河口沉积物孔隙水营养盐分布特征及扩散通量

通过2010年夏季在李村河口潮滩区3个站位的采样分析,研究了孔隙水营养盐的分布特征,并利用Fick第一定律估算了沉积物-水界面间营养盐的扩散通量。结果表明,孔隙水营养盐在不同站位间质量浓度不同,呈现出自河口上游向下游逐渐降低的分布趋势。NH₄⁺-N质量浓度为26.21~53.10 mg/L,是孔隙水中营养盐的主要组分。沉积物中有机物的降解反应主要在还原状态下进行,营养盐质量浓度在垂向上的变化受有机质含量及沉积物氧化还原环境改变的综合影响。除NO₃^--N外其他营养盐均由沉积物向上覆水体扩散,沉积物是底层水体营养盐的重要来源。     

亚热带中小型山溪性河流—宽陆架系统“源—汇”过程

中小型山溪性河流易受极端事件和人类活动影响,且对环境变化响应敏感,在大陆边缘物质循环过程中发挥着十分重要的作用,但学术界对它们的重视程度不够。以闽江—东海陆架系统为例,通过资料收集、遥感解译、样品采集与分析等方法,系统研究了亚热带中小型山溪性河流—宽陆架系统的“源—汇”过程。研究结果表明,人类活动引起的土地利用变化使得闽江入海径流量和泥沙通量在波动中略有增加,但水库的建设显著减少了入海泥沙通量,并且减弱了水沙通量的季节差异,河流入海泥沙通量变化对流域人类活动敏感且响应迅速;河口水体环境、悬浮体浓度、沉积物粒度组成及陆源有机碳埋藏的空间分布格局均显示,闽江入海泥沙主要分布在闽江河口附近海域,其中粗颗粒泥沙在水动力的作用下主要堆积在河口水下三角洲平原及前缘,细颗粒泥沙主要堆积在水下三角洲前缘斜坡及前三角洲附近海域,仅有少量细颗粒泥沙沿岸向外输运并沿途沉积,与大河流—宽陆架系统及中小型山溪性河流—窄陆架系统显著不同。河口人类活动及极端事件通过改变沉积物组成、环境动力、入海泥沙通量等方式对河流—陆架系统的“源—汇”过程产生显著影响。在当前流域来沙量锐减、河口地区海砂开采等人类活动强度增大的情况下,有必要加强相关研究。     

Suspended particulate matter and dynamics of the Mfolozi estuary,Kwazulu-Natal: Implications for environmental management

 The Mfolozi Estuary on the KwaZulu-Natal coast of South Africa is the most turbid estuary in Natal due to poor catchment management, leading to large quantities of suspended particulate matter (SPM) entering the estuary from the Mfolozi River. This paper quantities some of the solute and sediment dynamics in the Mfolozi Estuary where the main documented environmental concern is the periodic input of SPM from the Mfolozi Estuary to the St. Lucia system, causing reduction of light penetration and endangering biological productivity in this important nature reserve. Synoptic water level results have allowed reach mean bed shear stresses and velocities to be calculated for an observed neap tidal cycle. Results indicate that ebb velocities dominate the sediment transport processes in the estuary when fluvial input in the Mfolozi River is of the order of 15–20 m³ s^–1. Observed and predicted flood tide velocities are too low (<0.35 m s^–1) to suspend and transport significant amounts of SPM. Observed results indicate that although the SPM load entering the estuary is dominantly from the Mfolozi River, the Msunduzi River flow plays a major role in the composition of the estuary's salinity and velocity fields. It is calculated that the Mfolozi Estuary would fill with sediment in 1.3 years if it was cut off from the sea. The major fluvial flood events help maintain the estuary by periodically pushing sediment seawards (spit progrades seawards 5 m yr^–1) and scouring and maintaining the main flow channel in the estuary. During low fluvial flow conditions, tidal flow velocities will become the dominant control on sediment transport in the estuary. Interchange of SPM between the St. Lucia and Mfolozi estuaries under present conditions is complicated by the strong transverse velocity shear between the two systems at their combined mouth. This is creating a salinity-maintained axial convergence front that suppresses mixing of solutes and SPM between the systems for up to 10 h of the tidal cycle during observed conditions. Received: 22 May 1995 · Accepted: 31 July 1995     

海南岛崖州湾宁远河河口区现代沉积特征

崖州湾宁远河河口区位于海南岛南侧,是以陆源为主、沉积环境相对简单的小型河流入海沉积区。分别在宁远河中游、下游、河流两侧海岸带以及近岸300余米的滩坝处,采集了5根重力柱状样、55个底质沉积物样品,通过粒度分析和同位素测试,对研究区近代沉积物沉积环境、空间展布规律和水动力演化规律进行了详细探讨。结果发现,研究区主要以河流三角洲沉积为主,在空间上,根据沉积物粒度和分选将研究区划分为五类沉积环境分区;在时间上,近百年来不同地区的水动力变化有所区别,入海口附近区域水体动荡随时间变化频繁;而河道上游附近区域水体条件变化小,形成明显的沉积旋回。