Sediment suspension under waves and currents: time scales and vertical structure

Field measurements of the vertical structure of near-bed suspended sediment concentrations were obtained from arrays of fast response optical backscatter suspended solids sensors to examine the time-dependent response of sediment resuspension to waves and currents and the constraints imposed by bedforms. Data were recorded from both a nonbarred, marine shoreface and a barred lacustrine shoreface, under both shoaling and breaking waves (significant heights of 0·25–1·50m; peak periods of 3 and 8 s) and in water depths of 0·5–5·0 m. Sediment concentrations are positively correlated with increasing elevation above the bed, but lagged in time. The time lag varies directly with separation distance between measurement locations and inversely with the horizontal component of the near-bed oscillatory velocity. Both the presence of wave groups and the settling velocities of the sediment particules in suspension influence the temporal changes in concentration at a given elevation. Sediment concentrations appear to respond more slowly to the incident wind-wave forcing with distance away from the bed as a result of two factors: (1) the sequential increase in concentration induced by a succession of large waves in a group; and (ii) the relative increase in finer sediments with smaller settling velocities. Bedforms interact with the near-bed horizontal currents to impose a distinct constraint upon the timing of suspension events relative to the phase of the fluid motion, and, therefore, the vertical structure of the suspended sediment concentration at a range of time scales. The near-bed concentrations appear to be strongly dependent upon the vertical convection of sediment associated with the ejection from the wave boundary layer of separation vortices generated in the lee of ripple crests. Concentration gradients in the presence of vortex ripples are large, as are the correlation between concentrations measured at different elevations within the fluid.     

内孤立波环境下圆柱和方柱受力特征——Ⅰ.物理实验

随着近岸海洋的开发,海洋石油钻井平台底部的柱状支撑以及海洋中石油管线等水下结构物的安全问题受到的关注日益增多。而内孤立波对水下结构物的安全有着不可忽视的影响,这就决定了内孤立波对柱体受力的研究在工程实践中具有重要意义。国内外就内孤立波对柱体作用力的物理试验研究较少,而在分层流环境下圆柱和方柱受力规律的对比研究更鲜有报道。在大型重力式分层流试验水槽中,借助一套新型且专用于分层流环境下的内孤立波造波及水动力测力系统,进行了内孤立波环境下柱体受力规律的试验研究。对比分析了不同内孤立波波幅对圆柱和方柱受力的作用规律。研究表明,在分层流环境下,随着内孤立波波幅的增大,圆柱和方柱所受的水平作用力均增大;相同波幅情况下,方柱相较于圆柱会受到更大的水平力。研究成果可为分层流环境中柱体设计及安全评价提供科学依据。     

Geochemistry of suspended matter and sinking material in the eastern Norwegian Sea

This paper reports the results of a geochemical study of suspended particulate matter and particle fluxes in the Norwegian Sea above the Bear Island slope. The concentrations of suspended particles and the main components of suspended matter were determined in the euphotic, intermediate (“clean water”), and bottom nepheloid layers. It was shown that biogenic components are predominant in the water above the nepheloid layer, whereas the suspended matter of the nepheloid layer is formed by the resuspension of the lithogenic components of bottom sediments. The chemical compositions of suspended matter and material collected in sediment traps are identical.     

Wave-forced resuspension of upper Chesapeake Bay muds

Moored instruments were used to make observations of near bottom currents, waves, temperature, salinity, and turbidity at shallow (3.5 m and 5.5 m depth) dredged sediment disposal sites in upper Chesapeake Bay during the winters of 1990 and 1991 to investigate time-varying characteristics of resuspension processes over extended periods. Resulting time series data show the variability of two components of the suspended sediment concentration field. Background suspended sediment concentrations varied inversely with salinity and in direct relation to Susquehanna River flow. Muddy bottom sediments were also resuspended locally by both tidal currents and wind-wave forcing, resulting in short-term increases and decreases in suspended concentration, with higher peak concentrations near the bottom. In both years, episodes of wave-forced resuspension dominated tidal resuspension on an individual event basis, exceeding most tidal resuspension peaks by a factor of 3 to 5. The winds that generated the waves responsible for the observed resuspension events were not optimal for wave generation, however. Application of a simple wind-wave model showed that much greater wave-forced resuspension than that observed might be generated under the proper conditions. The consolidated sediments investigated in 1990 were less susceptible to both tidal and wave-forced resuspension than the recently deposited sediments investigated in 1991. There was also some indication that wave-forced resuspension increased erodibility of the bottom sediments on a short-term basis. Wave-forced resuspension is implicated as an important part of sediment transport processes in much of Chesapeake Bay. Its role in deeper, narrower, and more tidally energetic estuaries is not as clear, and should be investigated on a case-by-case basis.     

波浪作用下考虑海床变形影响的溶质运移数值模拟

波浪会促进海水中溶质向海底沉积物运移,但已有研究大多未考虑海床（海底沉积物）变形效应的影响。为揭示波浪作用下海床土变形对溶质运移过程的影响机制,构建了考虑海床土变形影响的溶质运移计算模型,对波浪作用下溶质向砂质海底沉积物中的运移过程进行模拟。结果表明:海床土变形会增大孔隙水流速,进而增大溶质纵向水动力弥散系数,增强溶质运移的机械弥散作用,促进溶质向沉积物中运移;考虑海床变形时的溶质最大纵向水动力弥散系数可达不考虑海床变形时的8.5倍,约为分子扩散系数的545倍;海床土剪切模量越小,土体变形效应越明显,对溶质运移过程的影响越大;海床土饱和度的降低,会进一步加速波浪作用下溶质向海底沉积物的运移过程。     

Dispersal of river sediments in coastal seas: Six contrasting cases

The fate of sediment seaward of river mouths involves at least four stages: supply via plumes; initial deposition; resuspension and transport by marine processes; and long-term net accumulation. The processes that operate at each stage, and relative roles of each stage in governing the long-term accumulation patterns, vary appreciably with river regime and coastal ocean environment. To illustrate the diversity and illuminate the process of dispersal, information is synthesized for six systems: Amazon, Changjiang, Mississippi, Columbia, Purari, and Huanghe. These systems differ markedly in terms of water discharge, sediment discharge, and coastal energy regime and much of the diversity of dispersal patterns is attributed to these differences as well as to the temporal sequencing of river discharge relative to oceanographic transport processes. Although the sediment: water ratio of the discharge of the Mississippi River is 70 times less than that of the Huanghe, both of these systems exhibit rapid deposition and accumulation of sediments near the river mouths. In contrast, sediments dispersed by, the other four systems are transported greater distances from the mouths by oceanographic processes, and are accumulating over relatively wide areas.     

Numerical study of sediment transport above rippled beds under the action of combined waves and currents

To study sediment suspension above ripples under the combined action of waves and currents, a three‐dimensional numerical model has been developed based on the use of FLUENT software, and an external sediment transport model. The computer model has been tested against laboratory measurements involving oscillatory wave motion, as well as cases of co‐linear waves with following and opposing currents, with satisfactory results. Compared with the situation in which only waves are present (called waves‐alone cases), the effects from the steady current on both vortex shedding and sediment suspension above ripples have clearly been revealed by the model results. In particular, the vortices generated in combined waves and currents tend to stay low in the trough area of the ripple and are ejected earlier than those in the waves‐alone case at both the ripple crest and trough, which leads to concentration peaks at different phases and with different magnitudes. The model was also applied to a field case from a multi‐barred, dissipative beach at Egmond‐an‐Zee, in the Netherlands, to investigate the influences of a long‐shore current on cross‐shore sediment transport. The model results show reasonable overall agreement with the field measurements, as well as the important effects of the three dimensional flow structure on the sediment entrainment process close to the ripple surface, which is very difficult to observe in such detail in field studies.     

海啸波作用下泥沙运动——Ⅱ.床沙组成变化分析

在波浪水槽实验的基础上,对海啸波作用下的床沙组成变化规律开展研究。实验采用1/10~1/20的组合坡度,选取N波作为入射波。实验对波高进行采集,对波浪的上爬、回落和水跃过程进行拍摄记录,对每个波作用后的地形进行测量,并对初始和最终的床面顶层泥沙进行采样筛分。实验结果表明,N波作用下泥沙在离岸区水跃发生区域堆积,淤积沙坝泥沙粒径呈粗化趋势。同时采用规则波和非规则波进行对比,波浪作用后形成岸滩也为沙坝剖面,淤积沙坝泥沙粒径呈细化趋势,结果均遵循Çelikoğlu提出的泥沙运动的基本规律,细颗粒泥沙会在强烈的紊动作用下从床面中被筛选出来,并被搬运到低紊动地区,此过程造成了剧烈紊动区泥沙的粗化。     

Rollers and ripples in sand, streams and sky: rhythmic alteration of transverse and longitudinal vortices in three orders

Sediment ripples are caused by systematically-spaced transverse roller vortex systems in a moving fluid undergoing shear. With greater shear, these transverse rollers change over into longitudinal (helicoidal) vortices. This is the basic cause for the change from so-called ‘lower flow regime’ conditions to ‘upper flow regime’ conditions. All characteristics of these two regimes (sediment transport rate, bed form, sedimentary structures) are logically explained by attributing them to change in type of vortex system. For currents depositing sediments, there are three orders of magnitude of vortices, each order beginning with transverse rollers, passing through festoon to longitudinal rollers. A chaos zone (antidunes) ensues, followed by resumption of transverse rollers that are five to ten times as large as those in the previous order. Features of river sediments, marine sands, turbidites, desert sand dunes, sky, and stars are satisfactorily explained by this model.     

波致海床瞬态液化对再悬浮贡献率的深度学习预测方法

波致瞬态液化渗流导致海床内细粒沉积物向海水中运移,这一过程对海底沉积物再悬浮的贡献率不容忽视,但是贡献率的准确估计和预测比较困难。本研究将黄河水下三角洲的观测数据(包括水深、有效波高、有效波周期、实验舱内悬沙浓度、实验舱外悬沙浓度)作为模型输入数据集,基于长短时记忆循环神经网络建立了瞬态液化对再悬浮贡献率的深度学习预测模型。为了客观评价模型的性能,以平均绝对百分比误差、均方根误差和平均平方误差-标准偏差为评判标准,将该深度学习模型与其他预测模型(支持向量回归模型、人工神经网络)的预测结果进行了比较。结果表明,基于长短时记忆循环神经网络的深度学习模型对3.5d以内的瞬态泵送再悬浮贡献率预测误差最小,其平均绝对百分比误差、均方根误差和平均平方误差-标准偏差分别为5.87%、1.6730、0.1574。因此,该模型可以有效地减少机器学习方法在连续预测中产生的误差叠加问题。     

中国东部海域表层沉积物粒度组成及影响因素

基于海洋区域地质调查获取的1 438个粒度数据,利用Folk分类方法将中国东部海域表层沉积物划分为砂质粉砂、粉砂质砂、粉砂、砂、砂质泥、泥质砂、泥7种沉积物类型,阐述了不同沉积物类型的粒度组成和参数特征.其中,砂质粉砂、粉砂质砂和粉砂是3种最主要的沉积物类型,分别占样品总数的34.70%、24.20%和15.51%.粉砂质砂呈条带状分布在研究区的南部且向北延伸.粉砂主要分布在长江口-浙闽沿岸、渤海西部和南黄海中北部.砂主要分布在东海外陆架、扬子浅滩和苏北浅滩、朝鲜湾等海区,其中在东海外陆架海区分布最广.影响沉积物分布的主要因素有物源、水动力环境以及水深、地形、地貌等.晚第四纪冰期旋回中海平面变化和海洋环流控制陆源沉积物的入海通量和陆架沉积体系的发育过程.综合沉积物物源供给、海洋环流、冰后期海平面变化过程,基于Folk分类的动力学属性和表层沉积物类型分布,将中国东部海域表层沉积物分布划分为河口沉积、陆架泥质沉积、潮流沉积以及残留沉积等分区.不同沉积分区的形成机制和影响因素差异显著,反映出在中国东部陆架的特殊地形影响下,不同海平面时期陆源碎屑物质的运移过程.      

Test of sediment initial-motion theories using irregular-wave field data

Sediment initial-motion theories predict the flow conditions that coincide with onset of sediment motion, but usually the most that can be determined from burst-sampled field data is whether or not sediment was in motion. Furthermore, initial-motion theories are usually based on regular-wave laboratory data, with little or no guidance given on how such theories are to be transferred to the real world of irregular waves. A field dataset obtained from the zone of wave shoaling beyond the surfzone is used to compare the performance of three initial-motion theories in a way that takes explicit account of wave irregularity and the limitations of burst sampling. The dataset comprises video images of the seabed and measurements of waves, currents and suspended sediment. The initial-motion theories tested were Komar & Miller's (1975 , J. Sedim. Petrol ., 45, 362–367) 'wave-orbital-speed' theory, a 'wave-stress' theory, and a 'wave-plus-current-stress' theory. Fourteen transitions from no sediment motion to sediment motion were observed, but not all of those represented a challenging test of theory. Using the criterion that the best theory is the one that minimizes errors in classifying bursts as 'no sediment motion' or 'sediment in motion', Komar & Miller's (1975 ) theory was found to perform the best when waves were characterized by significant wave height and mean spectral period, both of which can be estimated directly from pressure data alone. Komar and Miller's theory was better at predicting the onset of extended transport events, which occurred during confused seas, rather than the transition back to moribund seabed under clean swell at the end of such events. The conclusion regarding best theory is dependent on the choice of scales used to characterize wave motion. The way forward therefore is to standardize and define terms precisely.     

深海多金属结核开采潜在工程地质环境影响研究进展

深海多金属结核广泛分布于全球海底,资源储量丰富、开采潜力巨大。自20世纪60年代,围绕深海多金属结核开采提出了连续链斗式、穿梭艇式、管道提升式等的采矿方式,目前研究中多以管道提升式研究为主。将赋存在海床沉积物表面的多金属结核开采出来必然会引起表层沉积物的扰动,从而影响海水化学性质及海洋生物活性。国内外学者围绕深海多金属结核开采,从结核的资源储量、矿区工程地质条件、开采技术、环境影响等方面展开了诸多研究。基于国内外大量文献资料,着重整理了深海多金属结核富集区CC区(东太平洋的克拉里昂—克里帕顿断裂带之间的海底区域)的研究进展。针对以管道提升式开采方式开采深海多金属结核产生的潜在工程地质环境影响得到以下几点认识:(1)结核开采过程中对表层沉积物产生扰动致使沉积物发生再悬浮,再悬浮颗粒浓度是影响海水化学性质、海洋生物活性的主要原因;(2)矿区表层沉积物的工程地质性质是深海多金属结核开采过程中生态环境影响程度的关键控制因素,其决定了结核开采时沉积物再悬浮的质量、空间分布特征;(3)目前多金属结核开采的环境影响评价多基于对生物群落的影响程度进行定性的评价,尚未有基于沉积物工程地质性质变化、再悬浮沉积物时空分布规律进行的环境影响评价,未来深海多金属结核开采环境工程地质影响定量评价系统有待建立。以上认识对于深入了解多金属结核开采研究现状、工程地质环境影响特征、监测环境影响内容有重要意义。     

Assessment of the relative importance of major sediment‐transport mechanisms in the central Great Barrier Reef lagoon

The delivery, flux and fate of terrigenous sediment entering the Great Barrier Reef lagoon has been a focus of recent studies and represents an ongoing environmental concern. Wave‐induced bed stress is the most significant mechanism of sediment resuspension in the Great Barrier Reef, and field data and mathematical modelling indicates that the combined effects of short‐period wind waves, longer period swell waves, and tidal and wind‐driven currents can often exceed the critical bed stress for resuspension. Suspended‐sediment concentrations at 20 m water depth indicate resuspension seldom occurs on the middle shelf under normal wave conditions. Non‐cyclonic turbidity events are generally confined to the inner shelf. The wave climate in the southern sector of the central Great Barrier Reef lagoon is the most erosive, and resuspension of outer shelf sediments was hindcast for recorded cyclones. Wind‐driven, longshore currents are fundamental to the northward movement of sediment, and the annual northward mass flux from embayments undergoing resuspension in the Burdekin region is estimated to be one order of magnitude larger than the mass of sediment introduced by a moderate flood plume. Strong onshore winds are estimated to generate significant three‐dimensional bottom return currents on approximately 30–70 days per year, forming a potentially significant offshore‐directed sediment flux during high suspended‐sediment concentration events on the inner shelf.     

破碎波作用下沙质海床床面形态变化试验

波浪在斜坡沙质海床上破碎会加剧泥沙输移导致海床形态变化,研究破碎波作用下沙质海床形态变化机制对于岸滩演变分析极为重要。在波浪水槽中采用中值粒径0.47 mm原型沙铺设1∶20坡度的底床模型进行试验研究,测量不同波浪条件下床面形态和沙坝顶端悬浮泥沙浓度变化。通过测量和计算破碎带输沙率、沙坝尺度和沙坝移动速度,分析破碎波作用下沙质斜坡海床上床面形态变化规律。试验结果表明,破碎带沙坝顶端的悬浮泥沙浓度与水深和底部床面密切相关,在形成沙坝和沙坝水平方向移动时,悬浮泥沙浓度较大;斜坡上沙坝前后来回运动的周期大小具有随机性,沙坝既有向岸又有离岸移动;在多组波长时间作用后沙坝尺度趋于稳定,底床净输沙量趋于0。     

Features and Origin of Turbidity Current Sediment Waves in the Huatung Basin off the Eastern Taiwan Island

Based on numerous high-resolution seismic profiles, sediment waves and their distribution, morphological characteristics, internal structure, and potential origins were revealed in the eastern waters of Taiwan. The sediment waves are located at the junction between the Taitung Canyon and other canyons in the slope. The wave length and the wave height of a single waveform ranged from 0.8 to 7.2 km and from 18 to 75 m, respectively (NE-SW direction). Sediment waves, located inside the bend of the Taitung Canyon, were characterized by an upward migration and showed mass transport deposits (MTDs) at the bottom, while the inner curve of the bend was subdivided into lower and upper wavy transition units. The sediment waves on the outer curve of the bend were characterized by vertical accumulation, and there was no mass flow deposit at the bottom. According to the geometry of the sediment waves, the calculated flow thicknesses across the entire wave field ranged from 196 to 356 m, and the current velocity ranged from 15 to 21 cm/s. The morphological characteristics, the internal structure, and the distribution of sediment waves, as well as the numerical calculations, evidenced that these sediment waves had formed by turbidity currents. The development of the sediment wave field in eastern Taiwan was found to be similar to that in southwestern Taiwan. It was the sedimentary response of the tectonic movement between 3 and ~1 Ma which created the sedimentary systems where gravity flow processes predominated. Turbidity current sediments settled in the place of less topographical constraints or overflowed in the bend section of the Taitung Canyon, which resulted in the formation of sediment wave fields.     

福建安海湾表层沉积物粒度特征及其现代沉积过程分析

通过对福建安海湾表层沉积物的粒度分析和对比,应用系统聚类分析、粒径趋势模型和切应力计算公式,探讨了研究区粒度的分布特征、沉积环境分区、表层沉积物输运趋势及其影响因素.研究结果表明,研究区包括6种表层沉积物类型,以黏土质粉砂和粉砂为主,沉积物大体呈现自海湾两侧潮滩向潮汐通道变粗的分布趋势.表层沉积物粒度的分布特征与水动力条件和物质来源密切相关,湾口附近及湾内深槽内,细颗粒的沉积物被再悬浮带走,粗颗粒的含量增大;在湾内潮滩上,悬浮物质因水动力作用逐渐减弱发生分选沉降,形成向岸变细的横向分异.海湾外泥沙随潮流不断地向海湾东侧岸滩运移,海湾周边陆源来沙由湾顶部往湾口方向下泄,两者是导致表层沉积物出现明显的顺时针方向汇聚趋势的原因之一;表层沉积物的输运趋势、悬浮泥沙的输运、潮滩植被与湾口沙嘴的遮蔽效应共同影响了研究区内浅滩地形的形成和变化.研究区可分为四类沉积环境区,以潮滩和潮汐通道环境为主,不同沉积区内的粒度参数、粒级频率和敏感粒级均有差异,动力条件差异和不同物源的影响程度是现代沉积环境格局的主要影响因素.     

Research Progress on Source-to-Sink Transport Processes of Marine Microplastics

Microplastics in marine environment are global environmental issue and challenge and have received an extensive international concern. At present, most of researches focus on the investigation of microplastic abundance in the ocean surface water, and there is insufficient understanding of the distribution and transport processes of microplastics in the deep-sea environment. This paper reviewed marine microplastic studies carried out in the last decade, and summarized the source, global distribution and transport processes of microplastics. Field investigations showed that both surface water and water column were important accumulation areas for microplastics, while deep-sea surface sediments were final sinks for microplastic deposition and accumulation. Transport of microplastics to the deep sea included two modes: vertical settlement and lateral transport. Laboratory simulation showed that the sinking rate of microplastic particles in the ocean changed between 300 and 1 000 meters per day, and the sinking process was not solely controlled by particle physical properties such as particle density, but also influenced by ocean dynamic process, biological action and marine snow aggregation. Microplastics deposited on the seafloor could migrate laterally towards the deep sea with resuspended sediments, which were related to internal waves, deep-sea turbidity current or climatic events. However, there remain the key knowledge gaps in uncertain speed and quantity of microplastics moving to the deep sea, which is not conducive to the comprehensive understanding of the microplastic transport process from source to sink. Therefore, it is recommended to observe the vertical sinking flux of microplastics with layered sediment traps in order to study the source-to-sink transport processes of microplastics in deep-sea environment.