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An observational study of the carrying capacity of suspended sediment during a storm event

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Abstract

We measured the in situ suspended sediment concentration (SSC) and hydrodynamics (waves, currents, and sea level) concurrently during a storm event using self-recording instruments at offshore of the Shandong Peninsula in the Yellow Sea. We analyzed the temporal variation in suspended sediment carrying capacity and its correlation with wave, current, and water-level conditions. There was about 40% increase in SSC during the storm event. A 3–4-h lag was observed between the peak of wave height and SSC. The SSC increased in a fluctuating pattern up to the peak then decreased rapidly. This process was positively correlated with wave height and duration. The maximum SSC was 524.3 mg/l, which is about 10 times of that under normal weather conditions. This peak was observed after of a series of 1.8 m waves. The increased suspended sediments were the fine particles resuspended by the storm waves from seabed near the observation spot and transported by northward ebb currents from Shidao Bay.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Sangyun Wu and Yongde Jin for the valuable suggestions and the Island and Coastal Zone Research Center of FIO for providing the measurement instruments. Jianqiang Liu, Ming Zeng, and Mingxiang Ding took part in the field observation. This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 40806039) and Basic Research Operations Special Funds of FIO (2009 G20).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. First Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Qingdao, 266061, China

    Shuhua Bian, Zejian Hu & Jingfu Lv

  2. Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA

    Zuo Xue

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  1. Shuhua Bian
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  2. Zejian Hu
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  3. Zuo Xue
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  4. Jingfu Lv
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Correspondence to Shuhua Bian.

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Bian, S., Hu, Z., Xue, Z. et al. An observational study of the carrying capacity of suspended sediment during a storm event. Environ Monit Assess 184, 6037–6044 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-011-2401-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-011-2401-3

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