On the residual transport of suspended matter by an alternating tidal current
Abstract
A model of the vertical exchange of suspended matter in a non-stationary current has been described by which it is possible quantitatively to explain how a residual (time-integrated) horizontal transport of suspended matter in one direction can be brougth about in an alternating tidal current with zero residual water transport and equal maximum current strengths of flood and ebb tide. The model uses the concept of an equilibrium total load of suspended matter, Ne, and assumes that the rate of increase or decrease of the actual suspended load N at any time is proportional to the deficit or excess of N with respect to Ne (equation (5)). The condition sufficient for a residual horizontal transport of suspended matter to result is that the current variations from maximum ebb to maximum flood current and from maximum flood to maximum ebb current are asymmetrical. Figures 1 and 2 show a simple example in which the displacement of suspended matter in the flood direction is found to exceed the displacement in the ebb direction by as much as 38%. It has been assumed here that there is an unlimited supply of particles from the bottom.
- Publication:
-
Netherlands Journal of Sea Research
- Pub Date:
- 1967
- DOI:
- 10.1016/0077-7579(67)90004-X
- Bibcode:
- 1967NJSR....3..564G