Post on 18-Oct-2020
contents
problem description
observed phenomena
degradation history
key mechanisms
conclusions from analysis
countermeasures
Elbe
Ems
Weser
Loire
WesternScheldt
problematic estuaries in NW Europe
common denominators
access to harbour / shipyard activities
loss of intertidal area
access channel artificially deepened / enlarged
access channel dominates other channels
net import of fine sediment > increasing turbidity
environmental degradation
primary responses
tide:
(1) increase of tidal range (resonance)
(2) increase of ebb-flood asymmetry (velocity)
(3) increase of HW/LW asymmetry (water level)1
sediment:net import
> more pronounced turbidity maximum
> more extensive turbidity maximum
oxygen:
- reduction
1) different for Western Scheldt
positive feedbacks1
tide:
friction reduced by high sed. conc.
enhanced tidal amplification
sediment:overall turbidity
interaction with flow > fluid mud
floc size & location
estuarine circulationenhanced by high sediment conc.
1) not observed in Western Scheldt
positive
feedbacks
enhancing
sediment
import
degradation history
stage 0: ‘regular’ estuary
- well-defined turbidity maximum
at the head of the estuarine circulation
- balance between effects of
(1) river flow (export),
(2) tidal asymmetry (import), and
(3) estuarine circulation (import)
degradation history
stage 1: first effects of deepening
- well-defined turbidity maximum
with elevated concentrations
- enhanced estuarine circulation
due to higher sediment content
- less tidal asymmetry (realtively),
but flood-dominance remains
- tidal amplitude increases
- effect of river flow decreases
NET EFFECT:
ENHANCED SEDIMENT IMPORT
degradation history
stage 2: continued effects of deepening
- broad turbidity maximum,
local fluid mud formation
- effect estuarine circulation
relatively unimportant
- during flood: well-mixed water column
during ebb: highly stratified water column
- sediment load determined by capacity
conditions during ebb flow
NET EFFECT:
FURTHER ENHANCED SEDIMENT IMPORT
degradation history
stage 3: continued effects of deepening
- high SPM concentrations throughout
the estuary
- hyperconcentrated regime
- ubiquitous fluid mud formation in
certain phases of the tide
- sediment-induced drag reduction
enhanced tidal amplification
- internal asymmetry enhanced by floc
effects
- peak velocity asymmetry dominant
NET EFFECT:
STILL FURTHER ENHANCED SEDIMENT IMPORT
flood flow ebb flow
high peak velocity
turbulent mixing
dominates
density effects
largest flocs high
in water column
low peak velocity
density effects
dominate
turbulent mixing
largest flocs low
in water column
flocculation asymmetry
tidal pumping
z
ct1
t2
z
t3 = t1
t4 = t0
time
ve
loc
ity
entrainment phase
settling phase
z
c
t1
t0
z
ct1
t2
z
ct1
t2
z
t3 = t1
t4 = t0
z
t3 = t1
t4 = t0
time
ve
loc
ity
entrainment phase
settling phase
z
c
t1
t0
z
c
t1
t0
accelerating flow:
- fluid mud layer turbulent
- water entrainment at top
- sediment entrainment
at bottom
rising lutocline
decelerating flow:
- SPM-concentration above
capacity
- turbulence collapses
- high concentrations near
the bottom
falling lutocline
source: Schrottke & Bartholomä, 2008
… confirmed by data
salinity and turbidity uncoupled
salinity
sed. conc.
at flood
salinity
sed. conc.
at ebb
transport regimes
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
volumetric concentration f
flu
x R
ich
ard
so
n n
um
be
r R
i f
super-saturated conditions (1)
low/high-conc. sub-sat. suspension (2a/b)
hyper-conc. sub-sat. suspension (2c)
Ricr
U1
U2; U2 < U1
low-conc. susp.
high-conc.
susp.
1a
1b3
2negative
buoyancydominates
turbulentmixing
dominates
regime 1a:
- sub-saturated
- low concentration
- no sediment-fluid interaction
- no density stratification
- transport below capacity
regime 1b:
- sub-saturated
- high concentration
- sediment-fluid interaction
- density statification
- transport near capacity
increase of destabilises
transport regimes
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
volumetric concentration f
flu
x R
ich
ard
so
n n
um
be
r R
i f
super-saturated conditions (1)
low/high-conc. sub-sat. suspension (2a/b)
hyper-conc. sub-sat. suspension (2c)
Ricr
U1
U2; U2 < U1
low-conc. susp.
high-conc.
susp.
1a
1b3
2negative
buoyancydominates
turbulentmixing
dominates
regime 3:
- hyper-concentrated
- hindered settling
- sub-saturated
- strong sediment-fluid int.
- fluid mud formation
regime 2:
- super-saturated
- turbulence collapses
- sediment settles
- fluid mud formation
observations suggest: Lower Ems in regime 3
increase of stabilises
conclusions of analysis
longitudinal profiles of near-surface SPM
cross-stream distribution of SPMthe Lower Ems is probably in stage 3 now
it has undergone a severe regime shift
undoing this will take drastic measures
reducing tidal asymmetry will not be enough
hyper-concentrated regime needs to be breached
proposed measure: ground sill
reduces tidal asymmetry
(velocity & water level)
yet, flood dominance remains
but sed. input not down to zero
low water slack period longer
more efficient sediment trap (?)
internal asymmetry enhanced
NET EFFECT?
first get out of
hyperconcentrated regime,
then this may help
proposed measure: tidal retention
reduces tidal asymmetry
reduces tidal amplification
maintains larger channel
requires large storage area
sediment trapping efficiency?
undesired long-term effects in the
outer estuary?
sufficient to get out of the
hyperconcentrated regime?
proposed measure: tidal control
low water level set-up the
most efficient control mode?
velocity control as an
alternative?
sediment flushing
additional structural
measures needed
(e.g. bed protection)
additional measures needed
to get rid of the mud
(exit hyperconc. regime)
median conditions
Loire: natural flushing
N.B. Temporary effect!
puzzle: Western Scheldt response
deviations from other estuaries:
- water level asymmetry (HW vs LW)
- SPM import turbidityHOW COME?
Western Scheldt: multiple-loop system
conclusion
the Lower Ems has undergone a regime change
restoring a good state requires intrusive measures
no ready-to-use solution
many questions remaining
we might learn from other estuaries