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Two-dimensional horizontal modeling of fine-sediment transport at the South Channel–North Passage of the partially mixed Changjiang River estuary, China

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Abstract

Tidal flow and fine-sediment transport at the South Channel–North Passage of the partially-mixed Changjiang River estuary were studied using a two-dimensional horizontal (2DH) numerical model. This 2DH model was achieved by depth-integrating the momentum and convection–diffusion equations. The Alternating Direction Implicit scheme was used to solve the governing equations. The iterative method was adopted for the calculation of convection and diffusion terms of momentum equation. Comparisons between calculated and measured results (tidal elevations and depth-averaged velocities) have shown reasonable agreement. Horizontal distributions of tidal current velocity and suspended sediment concentration were qualitatively consistent with observations. Those modeled results were analyzed to elucidate the mechanisms for the formation of the turbidity maximum and intratidal variations in fine-sediment transport processes.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Marine Science Section (Estuarine and Coastal Program), National Natural Science Foundation of China, under grant 49806005 and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Hydraulic Science 50679040). The Shanghai Institute of Waterway Engineering Surveying and Design (now Shanghai Waterway Engineering Design and Consulting Co., Ltd.) is thanked for providing us with the 1996 bathymetric data of the North Passage of the Changjiang River estuary (as ploted in Fig. 2). Dr. Yong-Gang Zhang of the Dalian Naval Academy is thanked for his help in developing and implementing the model. Dr. Xi-Ping Dou of the Nanjing Hydraulic Institute is thanked for providing the hydrographic data. Les J. Hamilton (DSTO, Australia) is thanked for reviewing an early draft of the manuscript. Prof. Guo-Hong Fang is thanked for correcting two terms. Hong-Long Zhang is thanked for his help with Fig. 3. Reviewers are thanked for their constructive comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering, Department of Harbour and Coastal Engineering, School of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 1954 Hua Shan Road, Shanghai, 200030, China

    John Z. Shi, Hong-Qiang Zhou & Hua Liu

  2. Department of Military Oceanography, Dalian Naval Academy, Dalian, 116018, China

    Yong-Gang Zhang

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  1. John Z. Shi
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Correspondence to John Z. Shi.

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Shi, J.Z., Zhou, HQ., Liu, H. et al. Two-dimensional horizontal modeling of fine-sediment transport at the South Channel–North Passage of the partially mixed Changjiang River estuary, China. Environ Earth Sci 61, 1691–1702 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-010-0482-x

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