Influence of asymmetric tidal mixing on sediment dynamics in a partially mixed estuary

Zhongyong Yang; Zhiming Liang; Yufeng Ren; Daobin Ji; Hualong Luan; Changwen Li; Yujie Cui; Andreas Lorke

doi:10.1007/s13131-023-2159-9

Volume 42 Issue 9

Sep. 2023

Turn off MathJax

Article Contents

Abstract

References

Article Navigation > Acta Oceanologica Sinica > 2023 > 42(9): 1-15

Zhongyong Yang, Zhiming Liang, Yufeng Ren, Daobin Ji, Hualong Luan, Changwen Li, Yujie Cui, Andreas Lorke. Influence of asymmetric tidal mixing on sediment dynamics in a partially mixed estuary[J]. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2023, 42(9): 1-15. doi: 10.1007/s13131-023-2159-9

Citation:

Zhongyong Yang, Zhiming Liang, Yufeng Ren, Daobin Ji, Hualong Luan, Changwen Li, Yujie Cui, Andreas Lorke. Influence of asymmetric tidal mixing on sediment dynamics in a partially mixed estuary[J]. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2023, 42(9): 1-15. doi: 10.1007/s13131-023-2159-9

Citation:

Zhongyong Yang, Zhiming Liang, Yufeng Ren, Daobin Ji, Hualong Luan, Changwen Li, Yujie Cui, Andreas Lorke. Influence of asymmetric tidal mixing on sediment dynamics in a partially mixed estuary[J]. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2023, 42(9): 1-15. doi: 10.1007/s13131-023-2159-9

PDF( 1983 KB)

Influence of asymmetric tidal mixing on sediment dynamics in a partially mixed estuary

doi: 10.1007/s13131-023-2159-9

1.
College of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
2.
Hubei Field Observation and Scientific Research Stations for Water Ecosystem in Three Gorges Reservoir, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
3.
Hubei Key Laboratory of Intelligent Yangtze and Hydroelectric Science, China Yangtze Power Co., Ltd., Yichang 443000, China
4.
River Research Department, Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute, Wuhan 430010, China
5.
Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Landau 76829, Germany

Funds: The National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract Nos U2040220, 52079069, 52009066, 52379069, 52009079, 42006156 and U2240220; the CRSRI Open Research Program under contract No. CKWV20221003/KY; the Open Research Program of Hubei Key Laboratory of Intelligent Yangtze and Hydroelectric Science under contract No. ZH2102000109; the Outstanding Young and Middle-aged Scientific and Technological Innovation Team in Universities of Hubei Province under contract No. T2021003; the Hubei Province Chutian Scholar Program (granted to Andreas Lorke).

More Information

Corresponding author: E-mail: ren_yufeng@ctg.com.cn
Received Date: 2022-08-27
Accepted Date: 2022-11-04

Available Online: 2023-10-18

Publish Date: 2023-09-01

Abstract

Abstract

To investigate the influence of asymmetric tidal mixing (ATM) on sediment dynamics in tidal estuaries, we developed a vertically one-dimensional idealized analytical model, in which the M₂ tidal flow, residual flow and suspended sediment concentration (SSC) are described. Model solutions are obtained in terms of tidally-averaged, and tidally-varying components (M₂ and M₄) of both hydrodynamics and sediment dynamics. The effect of ATM was considered with a time-varying eddy viscosity and time-varying eddy diffusivity of SSC. For the first time, an analytical solution for SSC variation driven by varying diffusivity could be derived. The model was applied to York River Estuary, where higher (or lower) eddy diffusivity was observed during flood (or ebb) in a previous study. The model results agreed well with the observation in both hydrodynamics and sediment dynamics. The vertical sediment distribution under the influence of ATM was analyzed in terms of the phase lag of the M₂ component of SSC relative to tidal flow. The phase lag increases significantly in estuaries with typical ATM (higher diffusivity during flood and lower diffusivity during ebb) for the case of seaward-directed net bottom shear stress (e.g., strong river discharge). In contrary, the phase lag is reduced by ATM, if the tidally-averaged bottom shear stress is landward (e.g., strong horizontal density gradient). The dynamics of sediment transport was analyzed as a function of ATM phase lag to identify the time of highest sediment diffusivity, as well as a function of the residual flow, to evaluate the relative importance of seaward and landward residual ﬂows. In estuaries with relative strong fresh water discharge or weak tidal forcing (in case of flood season or neap tide), the near bottom SSC could be higher during ebb than during flood, since the bottom shear stress is higher during ebb due to seaward residual flow. However, landward net sediment transport can be expected in these estuaries in case of a typical ATM, because higher diffusivity causes higher SSC and landward transport during the flood period, while both SSC and seaward transport could be lower during ebb. On the contrary, seaward sediment transport can be expected in estuaries with landward tidally mean bottom shear stress in case of a reverse ATM, where sediment diffusivity is higher during the ebb.
- idealized model,
- asymmetric sediment diffusivity,
- vertical sediment phase lag,
- sediment transport

FullText(HTML)

References(45)

References

Burchard H, Hetland R D. 2010. Quantifying the contributions of tidal straining and gravitational circulation to residual circulation in periodically stratified tidal estuaries. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 40(6): 1243–1262. doi: 10.1175/2010JPO4270.1

Burchard H, Schuttelaars H M, Ralston D K. 2018. Sediment trapping in estuaries. Annual Review of Marine Science, 10: 371–395. doi: 10.1146/annurev-marine-010816-060535

Chen Wei, De Swart H E. 2018. Estuarine residual flow induced by eddy viscosity-shear covariance: Dependence on axial bottom slope, tidal intensity and constituents. Continental Shelf Research, 167: 1–13. doi: 10.1016/j.csr.2018.07.011

Cheng Peng, De Swart H E, Valle-Levinson A. 2013. Role of asymmetric tidal mixing in the subtidal dynamics of narrow estuaries. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 118(5): 2623–2639. doi: 10.1002/jgrc.20189

Cheng Peng, Mao Jianshan, Yu Fengling, et al. 2019. A numerical study of residual flow induced by eddy viscosity-shear covariance in a tidally energetic estuary. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 230: 106446

Cheng Peng, Valle-Levinson A, De Swart H E. 2010. Residual currents induced by asymmetric tidal mixing in weakly stratiﬁed narrow estuaries. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 40(9): 2135–2147. doi: 10.1175/2010JPO4314.1

Cheng Peng, Valle-Levinson A, De Swart H E. 2011. A numerical study of residual circulation induced by asymmetric tidal mixing in tidally dominated estuaries. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 116(C1): C01017

Cheng Peng, Wilson R E. 2008. Modeling sediment suspensions in an idealized tidal embayment: Importance of tidal asymmetry and settling lag. Estuaries and Coasts, 31(5): 828–842. doi: 10.1007/s12237-008-9081-4

Cheng Peng, Yu Fengling, Chen Nengwang, et al. 2020. Observational study of tidal mixing asymmetry and eddy viscosity-shear covariance−induced residual flow in the Jiulong River estuary. Continental Shelf Research, 193: 104035. doi: 10.1016/j.csr.2019.104035

Chernetsky A S, Schuttelaars H M, Talke S A. 2010. The effect of tidal asymmetry and temporal settling lag on sediment trapping in tidal estuaries. Ocean Dynamics, 60(5): 1219–1241. doi: 10.1007/s10236-010-0329-8

Dijkstra Y M, Schuttelaars H M, Burchard H. 2017. Generation of exchange flows in estuaries by tidal and gravitational eddy viscosity-shear covariance (ESCO). Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 122(5): 4217–4237. doi: 10.1002/2016JC012379

Dijkstra Y M, Schuttelaars H M, Schramkowski G P, et al. 2019. Modeling the transition to high sediment concentrations as a response to channel deepening in the Ems River Estuary. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 124(3): 1578–1594. doi: 10.1029/2018JC014367

Dyer K R. 1997. Estuaries: A Physical Introduction. 2nd ed. Chichester: John Wiley and Sons, 22–29

Fram J P, Martin M A, Stacey M T. 2007. Dispersive fluxes between the coastal ocean and a semienclosed estuarine basin. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 37(6): 1645–1660. doi: 10.1175/JPO3078.1

Friedrichs C T, Aubrey D G. 1994. Tidal propagation in strongly convergent channels. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 99(C2): 3321–3336. doi: 10.1029/93JC03219

Friedrichs C T, Hamrick J M. 1996. Effects of channel geometry on cross sectional variations in along channel velocity in partially stratified estuaries. In: Aubrey D G, Friedrichs C T, eds. Buoyancy Effects on Coastal and Estuarine Dynamics. Washington, D.C: American Geophysical Union, 53: 283–300

Fugate D C, Friedrichs C T, Sanford L P. 2007. Lateral dynamics and associated transport of sediment in the upper reaches of a partially mixed estuary, Chesapeake Bay, USA. Continental Shelf Research, 27(5): 679–698. doi: 10.1016/j.csr.2006.11.012

Geyer W R, MacCready P. 2014. The estuarine circulation. Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics, 46: 175–197. doi: 10.1146/annurev-fluid-010313-141302

Geyer W R, Scully M E, Ralston D K. 2008. Quantifying vertical mixing in estuaries. Environmental Fluid Mechanics, 8(5−6): 495–509. doi: 10.1007/s10652-008-9107-2

Geyer W R, Signell R P, Kineke G C. 1997. Lateral trapping of sediment in partially mixed estuary. In: Dronker J, Scheffers M, eds. Physics of Estuaries and Coastal Seas. The Hague, 115–124

Huijts K M H, Schuttelaars H M, De Swart H E, et al. 2006. Lateral entrapment of sediment in tidal estuaries: An idealized model study. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 111(C12): C12016. doi: 10.1029/2006JC003615

Huijts K M H, Schuttelaars H M, De Swart H E, et al. 2009. Analytical study of the transverse distribution of along-channel and transverse residual flows in tidal estuaries. Continental Shelf Research, 29(1): 89–100. doi: 10.1016/j.csr.2007.09.007

Jay D A, Musiak J D. 1994. Particle trapping in estuarine tidal flows. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 99(C10): 20445–20461. doi: 10.1029/94JC00971

Jiang Chenjuan, De Swart H E, Li Jiufa, et al. 2013. Mechanisms of along-channel sediment transport in the North Passage of the Yangtze Estuary and their response to large-scale interventions. Ocean Dynamics, 63(2): 283–305

Lacy J R, Monismith S G. 2001. Secondary currents in a curved, stratified, estuarine channel. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 106(C12): 31283–31302. doi: 10.1029/2000JC000606

Li Xiangyu, Geyer W R, Zhu Jianrong, et al. 2018. The transformation of salinity variance: A new approach to quantifying the influence of straining and mixing on estuarine stratification. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 48(3): 607–623. doi: 10.1175/JPO-D-17-0189.1

Li Lu, Wu Hui, Liu Jame T., et al 2015. Sediment transport induced by the advection of a moving salt wedge in the Changjiang Estuary. Journal of Coastal Research, 31(3): 671–679

Lin Jing, Kuo A Y. 2001. Secondary turbidity maximum in a partially mixed microtidal estuary. Estuaries, 24(5): 707–720. doi: 10.2307/1352879

Luan Hualong, Ding Pingxing, Wang Zhengbing, et al. 2017. Process-based morphodynamic modeling of the Yangtze Estuary at a decadal timescale: Controls on estuarine evolution and future trends. Geomorphology, 290: 347–364. doi: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2017.04.016

Manning A J, Bass S J. 2006. Variability in cohesive sediment settling fluxes: Observations under different estuarine tidal conditions. Marine Geology, 235(1−4): 177–192. doi: 10.1016/j.margeo.2006.10.013

Munk W H, Anderson E R. 1948. Notes on a theory of the thermocline. Journal of Marine Research, 7(3): 276–295

Scully M E, Friedrichs C T. 2003. The influence of asymmetries in overlying stratification on near-bed turbulence and sediment suspension in a partially mixed estuary. Ocean Dynamics, 53(3): 208–219. doi: 10.1007/s10236-003-0034-y

Scully M E, Friedrichs C T. 2007. Sediment pumping by tidal asymmetry in a partially mixed estuary. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 112(C7): C07028

Scully M E, Geyer W R. 2012. The role of advection, straining, and mixing on the tidal variability of estuarine stratification. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 42(5): 855–868. doi: 10.1175/JPO-D-10-05010.1

Simpson J H, Brown J, Matthews J, et al. 1990. Tidal straining, density currents, and stirring in the control of estuarine stratification. Estuaries, 13(2): 125–132. doi: 10.2307/1351581

Stacey M T, Brennan M L, Burau J R, et al. 2010. The tidally averaged momentum balance in a partially and periodically stratified estuary. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 40(11): 2418–2434. doi: 10.1175/2010JPO4389.1

Stacey M T, Fram J P, Chow F K. 2008. Role of tidally periodic density stratification in the creation of estuarine subtidal circulation. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 113(C8): C08016

Talke S A, De Swart H E, Schuttelaars H M. 2009. Feedback between residual circulations and sediment distribution in highly turbid estuaries: An analytical model. Continental Shelf Research, 29(1): 119–135. doi: 10.1016/j.csr.2007.09.002

Tessier E, Garnier C, Mullot J U, et al. 2011. Study of the spatial and historical distribution of sediment inorganic contamination in the Toulon Bay (France). Marine Pollution Bulletin, 62(10): 2075–2086. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.07.022

Uncles R J, Stephens J A, Law D J. 2006. Turbidity maximum in the macrotidal, highly turbid Humber Estuary, UK: Flocs, fluid mud, stationary suspensions and tidal bores. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 67(1–2): 30–52

Wang Chenglong, Zhao Yifei, Zou Xinqing, et al. 2017. Recent changing patterns of the Changjiang (Yangtze River) Estuary caused by human activities. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 36(4): 87–96. doi: 10.1007/s13131-017-1017-z

Winterwerp J C. 2002. On the flocculation and settling velocity of estuarine mud. Continental Shelf Research, 22(9): 1339–1360. doi: 10.1016/S0278-4343(02)00010-9

Yang Zhongyong, De Swart H E, Cheng Heqin, et al. 2014. Modelling lateral entrapment of suspended sediment in estuaries: The role of spatial lags in settling and M₄ tidal flow. Continental Shelf Research, 85: 126–142. doi: 10.1016/j.csr.2014.06.005

Yang Zhongyong, Wang Zhong, Cheng Heqin, et al. 2017. Analytical study of the sediment transport in the South Channel of Yangtze estuary, China. Haiyang Xuebao (in Chinese), 39(5): 22–32

Yu Qian, Flemming B W, Gao Shu. 2011. Tide-induced vertical suspended sediment concentration profiles: phase lag and amplitude attenuation. Ocean Dynamics, 61(4): 403–410. doi: 10.1007/s10236-010-0335-x

Relative Articles

Supplements(0)

Cited By

Proportional views