Circulation and suspended sediment transport in a sediment starving ria: the Itapessoca
Abstract The Itapessoca estuary is part of the Itamaracá-Itapessoca Estuarine System, a ria-type estuary located on the northeast Brazilian shore, in the state of Pernambuco. Here we present an assessment of the estuarine circulation, suspended sediment dynamics, and its main transport mechanisms. We carried out a field survey where water level, currents, salinity, temperature, and suspended sediment concentration (SSC) were recorded at 10-minute intervals during two complete semi-diurnal tidal cycles under spring tide conditions. The field survey was conducted in September (2012), which is a transitional period between wet and dry seasons. The water level displayed symmetrical ebb-flood phases; however, currents were ebb-dominated. The freshwater contribution was negligible, and the mean salinity was ~35 g/kg, which is slightly lower than the adjacent shelf values (36.5 g/kg). The SSC transport was driven by the ebb-dominated tidal currents, with the highest values of ~30 mg/l occurring during the peak current during the ebb. The source of the suspended sediment was the erosion from the bottom, and the concentration was much lower than other similar estuaries (e.g., Caravelas). This observation suggests this system is a ‘sediment starved system’ in the sense that it presents a low concentration of suspended sediment.
Main Authors: | Oliveira Filho,José C. de, Schettini,Carlos A. F., Silva,Ricardo F. da, Lima,Edmilson S. de, Domingues,Ernesto de C. |
---|---|
Format: | Digital revista |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Instituto Oceanográfico da Universidade de São Paulo
2021
|
Online Access: | http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2675-28242021000100314 |
Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
Similar Items
-
Circulation and suspended sediment dynamics in a tropical estuary under different morphological setting
by: PAIVA,BÁRBARA P., et al.
Published: (2016) -
Hydrodynamics and suspended sediment transport in the Camboriú estuary - Brazil: pre jetty conditions
by: Siegle,Eduardo, et al.
Published: (2009) -
Winter measurements of suspended sediments
by: Tywoniuk, N., et al. -
Statistical parameters of distribution of granulation indicating suspended sediment and bed sediment
by: Hansel, Norbert -
Storm-driven shelf-to-canyon suspended sediment transport at the southwestern Gulf of Lions
by: Palanques, Albert, et al.
Published: (2008-08-30)