Suspended sediment transport along an idealised tidal embayment: settling lag, residual transport and the interpretation of tidal signals

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Abstract

We present semi-analytical solutions for suspended sediment concentration (SSC) and residual sediment transport in a simple mathematical model of a
short tidal embayment. These solutions allow us to investigate in some detail the characteristic tidal and semi-tidal variation of SSC and the processes leading to
residual sediment transport, including settling and scour lags, the roles of ‘local’ and ‘advective’ contributions, and the presence of internally or externally generated overtides. By interpreting the transport mechanisms in terms of the classic conceptual models of settling lag we clarify how these models may be expressed in mathematical terms. Our results suggest that settling lag is
usually a more important process than scour lag, and that a local model which neglects advection may predict the direction of net sediment transport incorrectly. Finally, we discuss our results in the context of other transport processes and morphodynamic feedback.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)124-136
Number of pages13
JournalOcean Dynamics
Volume55
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2005

Keywords

  • sediment transport
  • tidal current
  • tidal signals
  • settling lag

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