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Two field campaigns in Dafeng and Jianggang were organized to compare spatial variations of hydrodynamic characteristics and sediment transport patterns on intertidal flats of different types with distinct human interferences along middle Jiangsu coast, China. The major contributors to the different patterns of sediment dynamics between the two tidal flats were offshore tidal current field and human interference. Offshore tidal force provide the basic setup of tidal current patterns on tidal flats, which is then modified by local morphology. Seawalls parallel to coast reduce tidal flat width, forcing tidal energy to dissipate within a shorter distance and thus influencing tidal flat morphology. Seawalls vertical to coast and major tidal current significantly reduce tidal current speed, which favors sediment deposition on tidal flats. Two seawalls built on both sides of the observational tidal flat profile caused much reduced current speed at Dafeng tidal flat, comparing to the offshore station. Being exposed to offshore radial tidal currents, hydrodynamics at Jianggang was much stronger than that at Dafeng. Residual currents at both areas showed net landward transport at the lower flat and net seaward transport at the upper flat, in favor to sediment accumulation at the middle flat. Sediment flux over tidal cycles showed net landward sediment transport at Dafeng, and net seaward transport at Jianggang, consistent with the convex-up accretion-dominated profile observed at Dafenge, and concave-up erosion-dominated profile observed at Jianggang. The instantaneons sediment flux changed significantly due to variations in velocity and sediment concentrations, but these terms counteracted with each other within tidal cycles, leading to the dominant role of Eulerian flux in determining net sediment flux over tidal cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An MIDAS-400 Customised Data Acquisition System was deployed to obtain current velocity and suspended sediment concentration profiles over the intertidal flat at Wanggang, on the Jiangsu coast (China). At the same time, seawater temperature, conductivity and pressure were measured. Using a data sampling rate of 4 Hz, the high-frequency pressure signals in response to water surface fluctuations were recorded and subsequently transformed into wave parameters. The analytical results show that the apparent bed roughness length has a magnitude close to the height of sand ripples, which is much larger than the grain size diameter. The bottom shear stress associated with current-wave interaction is higher than the tidally-induced stress and intensified turbulent mixing and resuspension. Furthermore, several suspended sediment concentration peaks occurred during a tidal cycle, which can be related to strong turbulence near the bed caused by frontal tidal currents and the enhanced resuspension; advection and extreme weather conditions (e. g. storms and strong winds) also played an important role. Finally, large net suspended sediment fluxes were observed to present when the flood or ebb currents prolonged, i.e. the flow became quasi-unidirectional during a tidal cycle. In general, the MIDAS-400 is a suitable tool for high-resolution data collection for the situations of combined current-wave action over intertidal flats; the data obtained can be used to analyze the processes and mechanisms of material transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper focuses on the hydrodynamic and suspended sediment transport processes in response to sequential reclamations over the intertidal flat, Jiangsu coast, which used to be one of the widest intertidal flats in China. Investigations into the sediment transport patterns reveal that net suspended sediment fluxes increased from 102 kgm−1 on the upper intertidal flat to 103–4 kgm−1 on the lower intertidal flat, per tidal cycle. This variation was caused mainly by the phases of the current velocity, suspended sediment concentration (SSC), local bed geomorphology, inundation patterns, and extreme weather conditions. The longshore component of tidal currents intensifies seaward over the intertidal flat. Extreme weather conditions (e.g. storms) and strong winds were important factors affecting the current velocity structures, the intensity of residual currents, and the SSCs. The SSCs were characterized by several peaks throughout the tidal cycle. These peaks were associated with strong currents, combined wave-current interactions and intense turbulences due to the initial flood surge. Furthermore, the suspended sediment was finer and contained more clay materials during the flood phase of the tidal cycle, than during the ebb. Fine particles were transported within the upper water column by landward residual currents, but coarse particles were transported within the lower water column by seaward residual currents. Overall, residual currents were apt to transport fine-grained sediment landward and coarse-grained sediment seaward. This pattern indicates that the suspended sediment fluxes are highly variable in the water column, even for very shallow tidal environments. The cross-shore component accounted only for a small percentage of the total sediment flux. However, this part of sediment supply dominated accretion over the intertidal flat. The intertidal flat has become narrower and steeper, following sequential reclamations. A negative feedback process existed to maintain the convex profile shape, although the human activities (i.e. reclamation) could have modified the natural process. The surficial sediment tended to become finer on the mid-upper intertidal flat but coarser on the lower intertidal flat following reclamations, in response to a reduction in the tidal currents over the intertidal zone and enhancement of wave action over the lower intertidal flat. Accretion, with high rates, was maintained by landward transport of sediment. In such an accretional system with influences of reclamation, the width or slope of the intertidal flat is adjusted continuously. Before the cease of reclamation, the intertidal flat is unable to achieve an equilibrium shape. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this study, a Lagrangian particle tracking model driven by hydrodynamic fields was used to investigate the changes of flushing properties in Xiaohai Lagoon resulting from natural evolution and influences of human activities. Comparisons of residence times between 1936 and 2001 indicate that the flushing efficiency of the lagoon has deteriorated greatly during the past seven decades. Over this period, the average residence time of the lagoon has increased from 45 to 71days, an increase of 59%. The Lagrangian residual velocity has decreased from 1936 to 2001 in the large portions of the lagoon, and the spatial distribution pattern of the residual current has changed significantly. The well-developed horizontal circulations in 1936 disappeared. Instead, the horizontal Lagrangian residual velocity showed uniformly seaward motion with reduced velocity in 2001. Human activities have incurred great impacts on the deterioration of flushing efficiency. The reduction of river inflow imposed the most significant impact, causing an increase of average residence time by 33%. The land reclamation in the lagoon came as the second most significant factor, causing an increase of 15%. Closure of the North Opening had posed minor impact. The model results suggest that restoring the river inflow, as well as the dredging of the tidal channel and the inner lagoon, should be the top proprieties for future water quality management. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]