Horizontal coherent structures between tidal flat and channel
van Prooijen, B.C.; Zhu, Q.; Brouwer, R.; He, Q. (2015). Horizontal coherent structures between tidal flat and channel, in: Wang, P. et al. (Ed.) Coastal Sediments 2015, San Diego, USA, 11–15 May 2015: The Proceedings of the Coastal Sediments 2015. pp. [1-10] In: Wang, P. et al. (Ed.) (2015). Coastal Sediments 2015, San Diego, USA, 11–15 May 2015: The Proceedings of the Coastal Sediments 2015 . World Scientific: [s.l.]. ISBN 978-981-4689-98-4. 3000 pp., more |
| Available in | Authors | | Document type: Conference paper
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| Authors | | Top | - van Prooijen, B.C., more
- Zhu, Q.
- Brouwer, R., more
- He, Q.
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| Abstract | Horizontal coherent structures were identified on several historical aerial pictures of the Westerschelde Estuary in the Netherlands. They occur at the interface between channel and mudflat and are visualized by the sharp gradient in suspended sediment concentration. Horizontal coherent structures are most clearly found at the mudflat “Kapellebank”. New measurements by means of GPSdrifters, velocimeters and aerial pictures show the presence of these coherent structures. The coherent structures have a typical length scale of 200m, rotation speed of 0.3rad/min and propagation speed of almost zero. The small propagation speed is favorable for the development of coherent structures, as they hardly dissipate energy by bottom friction and they have time to develop. The small celerity is a consequence of a current on the mudflat, in opposite direction of the ebb flow in the main channel. We argue that this crucial counter current is an effect of the bend in the channel. |
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