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Particle trapping in stratified estuaries: Application to observations

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Abstract

Estuarine turbidity maxima (ETM) retain suspended particulate matter (SPM) through advection, settling, aggregation, and nonlinearities in bed processes, but the relative importance of these processes varies strongly between systems. Observations from two strongly advective systems (the Columbia and Fraser Rivers) are used to investigate seasonal cycles of SPM retention and the effects of very high flows. Results for the Fraser and Columbia plus literature values for 13 other estuaries illustrate the applicability of scaling parameters and the response of ETM phenomena to a range of river flow (U r ) levels and tidal forcing. The most efficient trapping (represented by Trapping EfficiencyE, the ratio of maximum ETM concentration to the source SPM concentration) occurs for low ratios of river flow to tidal current amplitude (UT), represented by low values of the Supply number Sr.E in the Columbia is found to be maximal in a null zone where advection or tidal asymmetry (represented by Advection numberA) is weak(A ∼ 0). The ratio of aggregation to disaggregation (the Floc number Θ) is maximal on neap tides, while the ratio of erosion to deposition (the Erosion number P) is maximal on spring tides. The ratio of settling velocity to vertical mixing (Rouse numberP) is relatively constant in the Columbia ETM(P ∼ 0.7), because particle settling velocity and turbulence levels adjust together. Assuming that this result applies broadly, scaling variables and data are combined to express ETM properties in terms of the friction velocity (U*),U r , andU T , allowing a considerable simplification of the parameters used to describe ETM.

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Author notes

  1. Thomas Chisholm

    Present address: Bonneville Power Administration, P. O. Box3621, 97208, Portland, Oregon

  2. Douglas J. Wilson

    Present address: Imagenex Corp., 209-1875 Broadway Street, V3C 4Z1, Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada

  3. Annika M. V. Fain

    Present address: Philip Williams and Associates, 550 KearnyStreet, 94108-2404, San Francisco, California

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Portland State University, P. O. Box 751, 97207, Portland, Oregon

    David A. Jay

  2. Ocean and Climate Physics, LamontDoherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, 61 Route 9W, 10964, Palisades, New York

    Philip M. Orton

  3. Department of Environmental and Biomolecular Systems, OGI School of Science and Engineering, Oregon Health and Science University, 20000 NW Walker Road, 97006, Beaverton, Oregon

    Thomas Chisholm, Douglas J. Wilson & Annika M. V. Fain

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  1. David A. Jay
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Correspondence to David A. Jay.

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Jay, D.A., Orton, P.M., Chisholm, T. et al. Particle trapping in stratified estuaries: Application to observations. Estuaries and Coasts: J ERF 30, 1106–1125 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02841400

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