Observations of the effects of turbulence on particle size distributions in an estuarine bottom boundary layer

Thurston, Will; Souza, Alejandro; Pritchard, Mark. 2008 Observations of the effects of turbulence on particle size distributions in an estuarine bottom boundary layer. In: PECS 2008: Physics of Estuaries and Coastal Seas, Liverpool, UK, 25-29 August 2008. Liverpool, 139-142.

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Abstract/Summary

Here we present continuous, concurrent observations of dynamics and suspended particulate matter (SPM), performed in the bottom boundary layer (bbl) of a macrotidal estuary during a 24-day period. Turbulence parameters were found to vary on both a quarter-diurnal and a spring-neap tidal timescales. An approximate local balance between the shear production and dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) was also found. The concentration of SPM in the bbl varied on similar timescales, but diurnal and synoptic scale variations were also found to be important. The size distribution of SPM observed is strongly linked to the Kolmogorov microscale and turbulent shear rate, suggesting that turbulence is playing a significant role in regulating the extent of SPM flocculation.

Item Type:	Publication - Conference Item (Paper)
Programmes:	Oceans 2025 > Shelf and coastal processes
Additional Keywords:	TURBULENCE; SPM; FLOCCULATION
NORA Subject Terms:	Marine Sciences
Date made live:	16 Mar 2009 12:04 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/6493

Item Type:

Publication - Conference Item (Paper)

Programmes:

Oceans 2025 > Shelf and coastal processes

Additional Keywords:

TURBULENCE; SPM; FLOCCULATION

NORA Subject Terms:

Marine Sciences

Date made live:

16 Mar 2009 12:04 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/6493