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Day-night variation of cohesive sediment stability

Day-night variation of cohesive sediment stability
Day-night variation of cohesive sediment stability
Surface sediment properties related to cohesive sediment stability were measured over 8 consecutive day- and night-time emersion periods at three upper intertidal sites on a mudflat in August 2003, during the transition from spring to neap tides. Significant differences between day- and night-time critical erosion shear stress (τc) and chlorophyll a were found. A high degree of temporal and spatial variability existed between the sediment properties. During the first half of the study period, a rhythmic day–night variation occurred between τc, chl a, colloidal-S- and EDTA-extracted carbohydrate. During the second part of the study, the magnitude of variation of these parameters diminished. Results showed that sediments were more stable during the day than at night. Differences between day- and night-time sediment stability were related not only to diatom migration, but also to wave energy during preceding immersion periods. No significant relationships existed between τc and either chl a, or colloidal-S- or EDTA-extracted carbohydrate sediment content. It is suggested that tidal phasing, in terms of both the time during the day at which low water spring and neap tides occur, as well as the duration of the emersion period, control the biomass dynamics. The tidal phasing effect is expected to be more pronounced on a cohesive intertidal flat where low water spring tides occur at noon and midnight. The results of this study will be of use in time-dependent estuarine models.
cohesive sediment stability, day–night, spring–neap, microphytobenthos, Hydrobia ulvae, chlorophyll a, colloidal-S, EDTA, carbohydrate, Southampton Water
0272-7714
407-418
Friend, P.L.
600afae0-5185-4e55-8322-34bb8e0ae1f4
Lucas, C.H.
521743e3-b250-4c6b-b084-780af697d6bf
Rossington, S.K
87b14835-4d2b-45de-b314-51dc7ddb5106
Friend, P.L.
600afae0-5185-4e55-8322-34bb8e0ae1f4
Lucas, C.H.
521743e3-b250-4c6b-b084-780af697d6bf
Rossington, S.K
87b14835-4d2b-45de-b314-51dc7ddb5106

Friend, P.L., Lucas, C.H. and Rossington, S.K (2005) Day-night variation of cohesive sediment stability. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 64 (2-3), 407-418. (doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2005.03.006).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Surface sediment properties related to cohesive sediment stability were measured over 8 consecutive day- and night-time emersion periods at three upper intertidal sites on a mudflat in August 2003, during the transition from spring to neap tides. Significant differences between day- and night-time critical erosion shear stress (τc) and chlorophyll a were found. A high degree of temporal and spatial variability existed between the sediment properties. During the first half of the study period, a rhythmic day–night variation occurred between τc, chl a, colloidal-S- and EDTA-extracted carbohydrate. During the second part of the study, the magnitude of variation of these parameters diminished. Results showed that sediments were more stable during the day than at night. Differences between day- and night-time sediment stability were related not only to diatom migration, but also to wave energy during preceding immersion periods. No significant relationships existed between τc and either chl a, or colloidal-S- or EDTA-extracted carbohydrate sediment content. It is suggested that tidal phasing, in terms of both the time during the day at which low water spring and neap tides occur, as well as the duration of the emersion period, control the biomass dynamics. The tidal phasing effect is expected to be more pronounced on a cohesive intertidal flat where low water spring tides occur at noon and midnight. The results of this study will be of use in time-dependent estuarine models.

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More information

Published date: 2005
Keywords: cohesive sediment stability, day–night, spring–neap, microphytobenthos, Hydrobia ulvae, chlorophyll a, colloidal-S, EDTA, carbohydrate, Southampton Water
Organisations: Ocean and Earth Science

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 17305
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/17305
ISSN: 0272-7714
PURE UUID: 00481718-04d8-4a96-9f19-b88e11f9d81e
ORCID for C.H. Lucas: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-5929-7481

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 22 Aug 2005
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 02:46

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Contributors

Author: P.L. Friend
Author: C.H. Lucas ORCID iD
Author: S.K Rossington

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