Flux of particulate matter in the tidal marshes and subtidal shallows of the Rhode River estuary

There was a net influx of suspended particulate matter to the uppermost part of the Rhode River estuary during the several years of this study. Most of the influx was due to episodic discharges of suspended sediment from the watershed during heavy rains. In contrast, tidal exchange of particulate matter was not related to rainstorms. Sediment composition data and historical records indicate that marsh accretion accounts for only 13% of the sediment trapping although marshes occupy 60% of the study area. Influx of particulate matter to the marshes is directly related to the amount of time they are submerged during tidal cycles.     

Isotopic evidence of lead sources in Loire River sediment

Sediments along the Loire River (central France) were investigated by means of Pb isotopes determined on the labile sediment fraction, or acid-extractable matter (AEM). The combination of trace elements and Pb isotopes allows deciphering the origin of the elements (i.e. natural or anthropogenic) and their history, in the sediment from two small watersheds (one draining basalt, the other one granite–gneiss), both in present-day suspended matter in Loire River water, and in sediment from the Loire estuary. Crustal weathering, as confirmed by the Pb-isotope ratios for most sample points, is the main source of Pb in the upstream part of the Loire River, as well as that transported in the middle part of the basin and in the estuary. Among anthropogenic sources, the use of Pb-isotopic compositions shows an influence of agriculturally-derived Pb inputs and a major input of Pb derived from gasoline, particularly in the estuary due to harbor activities.     

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。     

Sediment dynamics and hydrodynamics in the lower course of a river highly regulated by dams: the Ebro River

The lowest part of the Ebro River is a microtidal salt-wedge estuary. Penetration of the salt-wedge is largely controlled by the fluvial discharge and the morphology of the river bed, although sea level variations caused by tides and atmospheric conditions can also play significant roles. The concentration and distribution of suspended particulate matter in this part of the river and the fluvial sediment discharge are strongly influenced by the dynamics of the salt-wedge. Damming of the river has caused sediment to be trapped in reservoirs and has regulated the fluvial discharge. Intrusion of the salt wedge has thus also been regulated. At present, sediment discharge is between 1 and 1·5 × 10⁵ tons per year, which is less than 1% of the sediment that the Ebro River discharged into the sea before construction of the dams. This extreme reduction in sediment supply has allowed marine erosional processes to dominate in the delta.     

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。     

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.     

Suspended Sediment Transport in the Freshwater Reach of the Hudson River Estuary in Eastern New York

Deposition of Hudson River sediment into New York Harbor interferes with navigation lanes and requires continuous dredging. Sediment dynamics at the Hudson estuary turbidity maximum (ETM) have received considerable study, but delivery of sediment to the ETM through the freshwater reach of the estuary has received relatively little attention and few direct measurements. An acoustic Doppler current profiler was positioned at the approximate limit of continuous freshwater to develop a 4-year time series of water velocity, discharge, suspended sediment concentration, and suspended sediment discharge. This data set was compared with suspended sediment discharge data collected during the same period at two sites just above the Hudson head-of-tide (the Federal Dam at Troy) that together represent the single largest source of sediment entering the estuary. The mean annual suspended sediment–discharge from the freshwater reach of the estuary was 737,000 metric tons. Unexpectedly, the total suspended sediment discharge at the study site in November and December slightly exceeded that observed during March and April, the months during which rain and snowmelt typically result in the largest sediment discharge to the estuary. Suspended sediment discharge at the study site exceeded that from the Federal Dam, even though the intervening reach appears to store significant amounts of sediment, suggesting that 30–40% of sediment discharge observed at the study site is derived from tributaries to the estuary between the Federal Dam and study site. A simple model of sediment entering and passing through the freshwater reach on a timescale of weeks appears reasonable during normal hydrologic conditions in adjoining watersheds; however, this simple model may dramatically overestimate sediment delivery during extreme tributary high flows, especially those at the end of, or after, the “flushing season” (October through April). Previous estimates of annual or seasonal sediment delivery from tributaries and the Federal Dam to the ETM and harbor may be high for those years with extreme tributary high-flow events.     

A modeling study of the Satilla River estuary,Georgia. II: suspended sediment

A three-dimensional (3-D) suspended sediment model was coupled with a 3-D hydrodynamic numerical model and used to examine the spatial and temporal distribution of suspended sediments in the Satilla River estuary of Georgia. The hydrodynamic model was a modified ECOM-si model with inclusion of the flooding-drying cycle over intertidal salt marshes. The suspended sediment model consisted of a simple passive tracer equation with inclusion of sinking, resuspension, and sedimentation processes. The coupled model was driven by tidal forcing at the open boundary over the inner shelf of the South Atlantic Bight and real-time river discharge at the upstream end of the estuary, with a uniform initial distribution of total suspended sediment (TSS). The initial conditions for salinity were specified using observations taken along the estuary. The coupled model provided a reasonable simulation of both the spatial and temporal distributions of observed TSS concentration. Model-predicted TSS concentrations varied over a tidal cycle; they were highest at maximum flood and ebb tidal phases and lowest at slack tides. Model-guided process studies suggest that the spatial distribution of TSS concentration in the Satilla River estuary is controlled by a complex nonlinear physical process associated with the convergence and divergence of residual flow, a non-uniform along-estuary distribution of bottom stress, and the inertial effects of a curved shoreline.     

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     

用镭同位素评价九龙江河口区的地下水输入

为评价九龙江河口区的地下水输入量及其输送的营养盐数量,建立了天然存在的镭同位素224Ra和226Ra的质量平衡模型。镭的源项考虑了河流的输入、河流悬浮颗粒的解吸、沉积物再悬浮颗粒的解吸、沉积物扩散输入、涨潮时外海的输入和地下水的输入;镭的汇项考虑了镭的放射性衰变,以及退潮时河口水的输出。根据镭的质量平衡计算,地下水输入的镭通量约占河口区镭总输入通量的41.9%~56.9%,转换成地下水输入量为1.65亿1.83亿m3/d,该地下水输入量是河流径流输入量的4倍多。以陆源地下淡水占总的地下水输入量的10%考虑,计算获得营养盐输入通量分别为461万mol/d(DIN)、22万mol/d(DIP)、694万mol/d(DSi),它们分别约是河流输入营养盐通量的23%(DIN)、28%(DIP)、77%(DSi)。结果表明九龙江河口的地下水输入量及其所输送的营养盐相当可观,所输入的营养盐是海域富营养化的潜在影响因素,在未来的河口环境管理中应引起重视。     

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.     

Variations of Hydrodynamics and Submarine Groundwater Discharge in the Yellow River Estuary Under the Influence of the Water-Sediment Regulation Scheme

The “Water-Sediment Regulation Scheme” (WSRS) is critically important to the hydrologic evaluation of the Yellow River estuary since a huge pulse of water and sediment are delivered into the sea during a short period. We used the natural geochemical tracers radium (²²³Ra, ²²⁴Ra, ²²⁶Ra) and radon (²²²Rn) isotopes as well as other hydrological parameters to investigate the mixing variations and submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) in the Yellow River estuary under the influence of the 2013 WSRS. Dramatically elevated radium and radon isotopic activities were observed during this WSRS compared with activities measured during a non-WSRS period. Radium “water ages” indicated that the offshore transport rate nearly tripled when the river discharge increased from 400 to 3400 m³/s. We calculated the SGD flux in the Yellow River estuary based on a radium mass balance model as well as radium and radon time-series models. The SGD flux was estimated at 0.02~0.20 m/day during a non-WSRS period and 0.67~1.22 m/day during the 2013 WSRS period. The results also indicate that large river discharge tends to lead more intense SGD along the river channel direction with a large amount of fresh SGD.     

Aluminum in the macrotidal Yalujiang estuary: Partitioning of Al along the estuarine gradients and flux

Water samples were collected from the Yalujiang estuary in both flood periods (August 1992 and August 1994) and dry season (May 1996) and were analyzed for aluminum (Al). Al behaves non-conservatively in the Yalujiang estuary, and a significant loss (70–80%) in dissolved concentration is observed in the upper estuary, in spite of seasonal variation in water discharge and sediment load. About 0.4×10⁶, tons of Al is annually transported from Yalujiang to the estuary, of which the particulate pool clearly dominates. The particulate Al flux through the Yalujiang contributes 35% of the total Al input from Chinese rivers to the Yellow Sea. The data sets from size fractionation and C-18 SPE separation demonstrate that a large fraction of dissolved Al is in colloidal (≈50%) and organically complex (≈60%) forms in the Yalujiang. The observed scavenging from solution to particulate pools in the estuary is most likely through the flocculation of colloidal and organic-complexed Al, which results in a considerable change in dissolved-particulate partitioning, shown by laboratory mixing experiments. Exchange between dissolved and particulate phases is examined by analysis of K_d, the distribution coefficient. The empirical relationship of K_d with chlorinity and suspended matter concentrations was investigated with field observations and model simulations. The model indicated that K_d values of Al are inversely related to the amount of total suspended matter, but K_d-chlorinity plots show different features between dry and flood seasons.     

Spatial and temporal variation of organic carbon in the northern South China Sea revealed by sedimentary records

Three sediment cores were taken from the Pearl River estuary and adjacent northern South China Sea (SCS). These sediment cores span the time interval 1900–2000 AD. The stratigraphy of the concentration, the ratio of total organic carbon (TOC) to total nitrogen (TN) and stable isotope (δ¹³C_org) of organic carbon (OC) from three high-resolution sediment cores were analyzed. The stratigraphic profiles of OC concentration, TOC/TN ratios and δ¹³C_org for the near past 100 yrs indicate that terrestrial organic matter decreases from 68.3% to 27.4% of the TOC in the Pearl River estuary, while Dapeng Bay (offshore east of Hong Kong) apparently had throughout little terrestrial organic matter input. The highest deposited OC occurs at the Humen River mouth and the OC concentrations are higher in the outer estuary than in the inner shelf of the northern SCS. The deposited OC at the River mouth increased with time, which could be caused by the high precipitation of land-derived organic matter and the high input of terrestrial organic matter, which is likely related to the rapid urbanization and industrial development in the Pearl River Delta since the 1970s. The OC concentrations did not exhibit an obvious increase with time in most areas of the Pear River estuary and adjacent inner shelf of the SCS, but the algal-derived OC concentration inferred from the δ¹³C_org values increased with time especially from 1980 to 2000 in the outer Pearl River estuary and Dapeng Bay. This increase is presumably caused by enhanced primary marine productivity supported by higher anthropogenic nutrient inputs.     

Fine sediment transport and accumulations at the mouth of the Seine estuary (France)

A comprehensive study of fine sediment transport in the macrotidal Seine estuary has been conducted, including observations of suspended particulate matter (SPM), surficial sediment, and bathymetric data, as well as use of a three dimensional mathematical model. Tide, river regime, wind, and wave forcings are accounted. The simulated turbidity maximum (TM) is described in terms of concentration and location according to tidal amplitude and the discharge of the Seine River. The TM is mainly generated by tidal pumping, but can be concentrated or stretched by the salinity front. The computed deposition patterns depend on the TM location and are seasonally dependent. The agreement with observations is reasonable, although resuspension by waves may be overestimated. Although wave resuspension is likely to increase the TM mass, it generally occurs simultaneously with westerly winds that induce a transverse circulation at the mouth of the estuary and then disperse the suspended material. The resulting effect is an output of material related to wind and wave events, more than to high river discharge. The mass of the computed TM remains stable over 6 months and independent of the river regime, depending mainly on the spring tide amplitude. Computed fluxes at different cross-sections of the lower estuary show the shift to the TM according to the river flow and point out the rapidity of the TM adjustment to any change of river discharge. The time for renewing the TM by riverine particles has been estimated to be one year.     

Sediment yield in the Patuxent River (Md.) undergoing urbanization, 1968–1969

Water discharge from the Patuxent River into its estuary was near-average (95%) during the water year 1968–1969 although precipitation was only 79% of the average. Suspended-sediment discharge into the estuary, however, was more then double the normal yield (344 metric tons/km² compared to 143 metric tons/km²). These increases in runoff and suspended-sediment yields, despite decreased precipitation, must be attributed to urbanization of the drainage basin.The maximum measured suspended-sediment concentrations in the rural Middle Patuxent basin (Piedmont Province) increased only 40-fold during an increase from “average” to high water runoff (15 mg/l to 600 mg/l). In the portion of the Little Patuxent River basin undergoing urbanization (Piedmont portion), stream concentrations increased by over two orders of magnitude (20 mg/l to 2400 mg/l) as a result of heavy rainfall. The area undergoing urbanization of the Little Patuxent yielded more than twice as much suspended sediment per unit area as the rural Middle Patuxent (620 metric tons/km² versus 290 metric tons/km²). This increase also is interpreted to be the direct result of erosion of soils denuded or disturbed during urban construction.Using the Middle Patuxent as a “standard” for normal erosion rates in rural areas, construction sites contributed about 82% of the suspended sediment discharged by the Patuxent River into its estuary even though such sites represented only 23% of the drainage basin.     

Natural isotopic composition of nitrogen as a tracer of origin for suspended organic matter in the Scheldt estuary

The natural isotopic composition of suspended particulate organic nitrogen was determined in the Southern Bight of the North Sea and in the Scheldt estuary. These data show that δ¹⁵N constitutes a convenient tracer of the origin of the suspended matter.In the winter, in the absence of intensive primary production, the suspended organic matter of the Scheldt estuary is a mixture of two components: a continental detrital component characterized by a low δ value of 1.5%. and a marine component with a mean δ value of 8%..During the phytoplankton flowering period, lasting from early May to October, intensive primary production occurs throughout the estuary giving rise to a third source of organic matter. This material is characterized by high δ values reflecting the isotopic composition of ammonia, the nitrogenous nutrient assimilated by phytoplankton in the estuary.The nitrification process occuring in the mixing area of the Scheldt estuary leads to higher downstream δ values of ammonia (>20%.) which permits the distinction between estuarine from fresh-water phytoplankton. Simple isotopic budget calculations show that, both in the upstream part and in the downstream part, autochthonous phytoplanktonic material contributes a major part of the total suspended matter in the Scheldt estuary during summer.     

Modeling the influence of settling velocity on cohesive sediment transport in Tanshui River estuary

Settling velocities of suspended cohesive sediment in estuaries vary over a range of several orders in magnitude. Variations in the suspended sediment concentration are often considered as the principal cause. Turbulence and the suspended sediment concentration, as well as other factors such as salinity, dissolved organic substances, flocculation ability, and the rate of floc growth affect setting velocities. A laterally–averaged finite difference model for hydrodynamics and cohesive sediment transport is developed and applied in the Tanshui River estuary, Taiwan. The model has been calibrated and verified with water surface elevation, longitudinal velocity, salinity, and cohesive sediment measured. The overall performance of the model is in qualitative agreement with the available data. The model is used to investigate the influence of settling velocity on cohesive sediment transport dynamics. The simulation indicates that the turbidity maximum zone is near Kuan–Du. When settling velocities increase the surface cohesive sediment concentration at Kuan–Du station trends to decrease and bottom cohesive sediment concentration increases. Both surface and bottom cohesive sediment concentrations decrease at Taipei Bridge and Pa–Ling Bridge. This implies that suspended sediment advected seaward and deposited. There is consequently a net seaward flux of suspended sediment near surface, and a net landward flux near the bed.     

Sediment source identification and residence times in the Maroochy River estuary,southeast Queensland,Australia

Identification of sediment sources and associated nutrients and contaminants is crucial to the ecological management of aquatic systems. A combination of geochemical and radionuclide tracing techniques and geostatistical modelling have been used to determine the primary source areas of fine sediment delivered to the Maroochy River estuary. The application of radionuclide (¹³⁷Cs and ²¹⁰Pb) techniques indicate that approximately 70% of the sediment in the Maroochy River estuary originates from subsoil erosion. An average of 60% of sediment in the lower estuary originates from soils developed on the Landsborough Sandstone, with 35% coming from soils developed on granitoids. In the mid-Maroochy River estuary major contributions of fine sediment come from soils developed on Landsborough Sandstone (38%) and granitoids (36%). Estimated sediment residence times in the Maroochy River estuary are generally less than 30 years, however, one sample site near the estuary mouth had an estimated residence time of at least 30 years. This indicates that sediment accumulation rates in mangroves along the estuary margins are relatively low. Results from this study will be used by catchment managers to better target remedial action to reduce fine sediment delivery to the Maroochy River estuary.     

三峡建库前后下荆江有效流量研究

有效流量是天然河流某一时段内悬移质输沙量最大所对应的流量,可反映中、短期造床作用。根据监利水文站1991—2016年逐月流量、输沙量及悬移质级配,分析三峡建库前后流量频率及不同粒径组悬移质泥沙输移特性;运用理论分析法与分组频率法计算下荆江分组悬移质输沙量对应有效流量的大小、重现期、历时。研究成果表明:受来水来沙、水流挟沙能力以及床沙补给等因素影响,有效流量随泥沙粒径增大而减小。建库后,因河床冲刷各粒径组间有效流量偏差增大,0. 062 mm0. 125 mm粒径组泥沙有效流量重现期减小;细颗粒泥沙含沙量严重不饱和河道输送粗颗粒泥沙的能力相对较大,悬移质级配粗化;累积50%的泥沙输移需43%～82%的累积流量以及62%～90%的累积历时,且累积流量和累积历时随着泥沙粒径的增大而减小和缩短。研究三峡建库前后有效流量变化对分析冲刷条件下下荆江河段河床演变具有重要意义。