scholarly journals Numerical Simulation of Deep-Sea Sediment Transport Induced by a Dredge Experiment in the Northeastern Pacific Ocean

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaveh Purkiani ◽  
Benjamin Gillard ◽  
André Paul ◽  
Matthias Haeckel ◽  
Sabine Haalboom ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sediment Transport ◽  
Pacific Ocean ◽  
Suspended Sediment ◽  
Deep Sea ◽  
Numerical Models ◽  
Sediment Concentration ◽  
Ocean Model ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Plume Dispersion ◽  
Deep Sea Sediment

Predictability of the dispersion of sediment plumes induced by potential deep-sea mining activities is still very limited due to operational limitations on in-situ observations required for a thorough validation and calibration of numerical models. Here we report on a plume dispersion experiment carried out in the German license area for the exploration of polymetallic nodules in the northeastern tropical Pacific Ocean in 4,200 m water depth. The dispersion of a sediment plume induced by a small-scale dredge experiment in April 2019 was investigated numerically by employing a sediment transport module coupled to a high-resolution hydrodynamic regional ocean model. Various aspects including sediment characteristics and ocean hydrodynamics were examined to obtain the best statistical agreement between sensor-based observations and model results. Results show that the model is capable of reproducing suspended sediment concentration and redeposition patterns observed during the dredge experiment. Due to a strong southward current during the dredging, the model predicts no sediment deposition and plume dispersion north of the dredging tracks. The sediment redeposition thickness reaches up to 9 mm directly next to the dredging tracks and 0.07 mm in about 320 m away from the dredging center. The model results suggest that seabed topography and variable sediment release heights above the seafloor cause significant changes especially for the low sedimentation pattern in the far-field area. Near-bottom mixing is expected to strongly influence vertical transport of suspended sediment.

Numerical simulation of the dispersion of a sediment plume induced by seabed dredging in the northeastern tropical Pacific Ocean

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaveh Purkiani ◽  
Benjamin Gillard ◽  
André Paul ◽  
Matthias Haeckel ◽  
Sabine Haalboom ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Ocean ◽  
Numerical Models ◽  
Sediment Concentration ◽  
Ocean Model ◽  
Tropical Pacific ◽  
Far Field ◽  
Plume Dispersion ◽  
Tropical Pacific Ocean ◽  
Seabed Topography ◽  
Ocean Hydrodynamics

<p>Prediction of the dispersion of sediment plumes induced by potential mining activities is still very limited due to operational limitations on <em>in-situ</em> observations required for a thorough validation and calibration of numerical models. Here we report on a plume dispersion experiment carried out in the German License Area for the exploration of polymetallic nodules in the northeastern tropical Pacific Ocean. The dispersion of a sediment plume induced by a dredging experiment in April 2019 was investigated by employing a hydrodynamic high-resolution regional ocean model coupled to a sediment transport module.</p><p>Various aspects including sediment characteristics and ocean hydrodynamics are examined to obtain the best statistical agreement between observation and model results. Results show that the model is capable to reproduce suspended sediment concentration and re-deposition patterns observed in the dredging experiment. Due to a strong southward current during the experiment, the model predicts no sediment deposition and plume dispersion north of the dredging tracks. The sediment re-deposition thickness reaches up to 9 mm at the dredging tracks and 0.01 mm at far-field at a distance of about 500 m from the dredging tracks.</p><p>The model results suggest that seabed topography and variable sediment release heights above the seafloor cause significant changes especially for the low sedimentation pattern in the far-field region due to different current regimes. The termination of seawater stratification can rise sediment plume above the seafloor and spread it in a larger vertical distances up to 10 m from the seafloor.</p>

scholarly journals Sediment transport modelling in riverine environments: on the importance of grain-size distribution, sediment density and boundary conditions

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jérémy Lepesqueur ◽  
Renaud Hostache ◽  
Núria Martínez-Carreras ◽  
Emmanuelle Montargès-Pelletier ◽  
Christophe Hissler
Keyword(s):  
Grain Size ◽  
Sediment Transport ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Suspended Sediment ◽  
Grain Size Distribution ◽  
Suspended Sediment Concentration ◽  
Sediment Concentration ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Sediment Grain Size ◽  
Model Based

Abstract. Hydromorphodynamic models are powerful tools to predict the potential mobilization and transport of sediment in river ecosystems. Recent studies even showed that they are able to satisfyingly predict suspended sediment matter concentration in small river systems. However, modelling exercises often neglect suspended sediment properties (e.g. particle site distribution and density), even though such properties are known to directly control the sediment particle dynamics in the water column during rising and flood events. This study has two objectives. On the one hand, it aims at further developing an existing hydromorphodynamic model based on the dynamic coupling of TELEMAC-3D (v7p1) and SISYPHE (v7p1) in order to enable an enhanced parameterisation of the sediment grain size distribution with distributed sediment density. On the other hand, it aims at evaluating and discussing the added-value of the new development for improving sediment transport and riverbed evolution predictions. To this end, we evaluate the sensitivity of the model to sediment grain size distribution, sediment density and suspended sediment concentration at the upstream boundary condition. As a test case, the model is used to simulate a flood event in a small scale river, the Orne River in North-eastern France. The results show substantial discrepancies in bathymetry evolution depending on the model setup. Moreover, the sediment model based on an enhanced sediment grain size distribution (10 classes) and with distributed sediment density outperforms the model with only two sediment grain size classes in terms of simulated suspended sediment concentration.

scholarly journals Flocculation processes and sedimentation of fine sediments in the open annular flume – experiment and numerical modeling

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 437-481 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Klassen ◽  
G. Hillebrand ◽  
N. R. B. Olsen ◽  
S. Vollmer ◽  
B. Lehmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Fractal Dimension ◽  
Sediment Transport ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Settling Velocity ◽  
Numerical Models ◽  
Sediment Concentration ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Fine Sediments ◽  
Aggregation Processes

Abstract. The prediction of cohesive sediment transport requires numerical models which include the dominant physico-chemical processes of fine sediments. Mainly in terms of simulating small scale processes, flocculation of fine particles plays an important role since aggregation processes affect the transport and settling of fine-grained particles. Flocculation algorithms used in numerical models are based on and calibrated using experimental data. A good agreement between the results of the simulation and the measurements is a prerequisite for further applications of the transport functions. In this work, the sediment transport model (SSIIM) was extended by implementing a physics-based aggregation process model based on McAnally (1999). SSIIM solves the Navier-Stokes-Equations in a three-dimensional, non-orthogonal grid using the k-ε turbulence model. The program calculates the suspended load with the convection-diffusion equation for the sediment concentration. Experimental data from studies in annular flumes (Hillebrand, 2008; Klassen, 2009) is used to test the flocculation algorithm. Annular flumes are commonly used as a test rig for laboratory studies on cohesive sediments since the flocculation processes are not interfered with by pumps etc. We use the experiments to model measured floc sizes, affected by aggregation processes, as well as the sediment concentration of the experiment. Within the simulation of the settling behavior, we use different formulas for calculating the settling velocity (Stokes, 1850 vs. Winterwerp, 1998) and include the fractal dimension to take into account the structure of flocs. The aim of the numerical calculations is to evaluate the flocculation algorithm by comparison with the experimental data. The results from these studies have shown, that the flocculation process and the settling behaviour are very sensitive to variations in the fractal dimension. We get the best agreement with measured data by adopting a characteristic fractal dimension nfc to 1.4. Insufficient results were obtained when neglecting flocculation processes and using Stokes settling velocity equation, as it is often done in numerical models which do not include a flocculation algorithm. These numerical studies will be used for further applications of the transport functions to the SSIIM model of reservoirs of the Upper Rhine River, Germany.

scholarly journals Unraveling the Essential Effects of Flocculation on Large-Scale Sediment Transport Patterns in a Tide-Dominated Estuary

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (7) ◽  
pp. 1957-1981 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dante M. L. Horemans ◽  
Yoeri M. Dijkstra ◽  
Henk M. Schuttelaars ◽  
Patrick Meire ◽  
Tom J. S. Cox
Keyword(s):  
Sediment Transport ◽  
Suspended Sediment ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Settling Velocity ◽  
Sediment Concentration ◽  
Order Effect ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Estuarine Turbidity Maxima ◽  
The Impact

AbstractSediment transport in estuaries and the formation of estuarine turbidity maxima (ETM) highly depend on the ability of suspended particulate matter (SPM) to flocculate into larger aggregates. While most literature focuses on the small-scale impact of biological flocculants on the formation of larger aggregates, the influence of the flocculation process on large-scale estuarine SPM profiles is still largely unknown. In this paper, we study the impact of flocculation of SPM on the formation of ETM. For this, a semianalytical width-integrated model called iFlow is utilized and extended by a flocculation model. Starting from a complex one-class flocculation model, we show that flocculation may be described as a linear relation between settling velocity and suspended sediment concentration to capture its leading-order effect on the ETM formation. The model is applied to a winter case in the Scheldt estuary (Belgium, Netherlands) and calibrated to a unique, long-term, two-dimensional set of turbidity (cf. SPM) observations. First, model results with and without the effect of flocculation are compared, showing that the spatial and temporal variations of the settling velocity due to flocculation are essential to reproduce the observed magnitude of the suspended sediment concentrations and its dependence on river discharge. Second, flocculation results in tidally averaged land-inward sediment transport. Third, we conduct a sensitivity analysis of the freshwater discharge and floc breakup parameter, which shows that flocculation can cause additional estuarine turbidity maxima and can prevent flushing of the ETM for high freshwater inflow.

scholarly journals On sediment transport under dam-break flow

2002 ◽  
Vol 473 ◽  
pp. 265-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
DAVID PRITCHARD ◽  
ANDREW J. HOGG
Keyword(s):  
Sediment Transport ◽  
Suspended Sediment ◽  
Numerical Models ◽  
Sediment Concentration ◽  
Transport Processes ◽  
Dam Break ◽  
Suspended Sediment Transport ◽  
Test Bed ◽  
Small Depth ◽  
Dam Break Flow

We present exact solutions for suspended sediment transport under one-dimensional dam-break flow, both over a dry bed and into a small depth of tail water. We explicitly calculate the suspended sediment concentration, including erosion and deposition, and investigate the effect of varying the erosional and depositional models employed. These solutions order insight into sediment transport processes under floods or sheet flow events, and we also discuss their application as test-bed solutions for the validation of numerical models.

Sediment transport modifications induced by submerged artificial reef systems: a case study for the Gulf of Venice

2014 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Davide Bonaldo ◽  
Alvise Benetazzo ◽  
Andrea Bergamasco ◽  
Francesco Falcieri ◽  
Sandro Carniel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sediment Transport ◽  
Coastal Zone Management ◽  
Artificial Reef ◽  
Sediment Concentration ◽  
Quantitative Information ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Zone Management ◽  
Basin Scale ◽  
Scale Modelling ◽  
Maritime Spatial Planning

AbstractThe shallow, gently sloping, sandy-silty seabed of the Venetian coast (Italy) is studded by a number of outcropping rocky systems of different size encouraging the development of peculiar zoobenthic biocenoses with considerably higher biodiversity indexes compared to neighbouring areas. In order to protect and enhance the growth of settling communities, artificial monolithic reefs were deployed close to the most important formations, providing further nesting sites and mechanical hindrance to illegal trawl fishing.In this framework, a multi-step and multi-scale numerical modelling activity was carried out to predict the perturbations induced by the presence of artificial structures on sediment transport over the outcroppings and their implications on turbidity and water quality. After having characterized wave and current circulation climate at the sub-basin scale over a reference year, a set of small scale simulations was carried out to describe the effects of a single monolith under different geometries and hydrodynamic forcings, encompassing the conditions likely occurring at the study sites. A dedicated tool was then developed to compose the information contained in the small-scale database into realistic deployment configurations, and applied in four protected outcroppings identified as test sites. With reference to these cases, under current meteomarine climate the application highlighted a small and localised increase in suspended sediment concentration, suggesting that the implemented deployment strategy is not likely to produce harmful effects on turbidity close to the outcroppings.In a broader context, the activity is oriented at the tuning of a flexible instrument for supporting the decision-making process in benthic environments of outstanding environmental relevance, especially in the Integrated Coastal Zone Management or Maritime Spatial Planning applications. The dissemination of sub-basin scale modelling results via the THREDDS Data Server, together with an user-friendly software for composing single-monolith runs and a graphical interface for exploring the available data, significantly improves the quantitative information collection and sharing among scientists, stakeholders and policy-makers.

scholarly journals Transport Mechanism of Suspended Sediments and Migration Trends of Sediments in the Central Hangzhou Bay

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 2189
Author(s):  
Zekun Song ◽  
Weiyong Shi ◽  
Junbiao Zhang ◽  
Hao Hu ◽  
Feng Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sediment Transport ◽  
Suspended Sediment ◽  
Suspended Sediment Concentration ◽  
Suspended Sediments ◽  
Sediment Concentration ◽  
Hangzhou Bay ◽  
The South ◽  
Transport Mode ◽  
Tidal Pumping ◽  
The North

Based on the 2013 field survey data of hydrology, suspended sediments and bottom sediments in the Central Hangzhou Bay, this paper explores the dynamic mechanism of suspended sediments in Hangzhou Bay by employing material flux decomposition. Meanwhile, the migration trends of bed sediments are also investigated by analyzing grain size trends. The results show that during an ebb or flood tide, the hydrograph of suspended sediment concentration of Hangzhou Bay is dominated by an M shape (bimodal), which is attributed primarily to the generation of a soft mud layer and a separate fluid mud layer. Laterally, the distribution of suspended sediment concentration is high in the south and low in the north. From a macroscopic perspective, the net sediment transport in the study area displays a “north-landward and south-seaward” trend, presenting a “C”-shaped transport mode. That is, the sediments are transported from the bay mouth to the bay head on the north side and from the bay head to the bay mouth on the south side. The sediment transports by advection and tidal pumping are predominant, while the sediment transport by vertical circulation makes little contribution to the total sediment transport. Moreover, the sediment transport in the center of the reach area is dominated by advection, whereas that near both sides of the banks is controlled by tidal pumping. The asymmetry of the tides, i.e., flood-dominance in the north and ebb-dominance in the south, is the primary cause of the dynamic mechanism for the overall “C”-shaped transport mode in Hangzhou Bay. Additionally, coupled with the narrow-head wide-mouth geomorphology, Hangzhou Bay remains evolving by south shore silting and north shore scouring.

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