Paper No. 9-11
Presentation Time: 5:05 PM
LARGE EDDY SIMULATION OF SUSPENDED SEDIMENTS IN SHALLOW WATER
In coastal shallow water (~10 meters), turbulent flows driven by meteorological conditions at the ocean surface are capable of filling the whole water column and reaching the seabed. Observations show that those turbulent structures play an important role in keeping suspended sediments in the water column thereby contributing to cross-shore sediment transport. To better understand the effect of water column turbulence on sediment processes, we configure a turbulence-resolving large-eddy simulation (LES) model for a shallow water column and couple the LES model with a model for suspended sediment concentrations. We examine solutions driven by different meteorological conditions (wind, wave, and heat flux) and for sediments of different settling speeds. Results on instantaneous sediment plume structures and the ensemble statistics of sediment concentrations will be discussed.