Solute Dispersion and Sediment Transport in Estuaries

Abstract

Synoptic measurements of velocity and salinity at several points on up to five vertical profiles at a cross-section in the Conwy show that solute dispersion coefficients are affected by secondary flow induced by the interaction of transverse shear and the salinity induced longitudinal density gradient. It is concluded that dispersion coefficients are temporally and spatially dependent and a simple empirical formula is suggested. Some data from the initial stages of a similar study of sediment transport show that techniques exist which permit the study of the turbulent fluctuations of suspended solids concentration and the evaluation of the tidal dependence of suspended solids transport phenomena.