Sudden clearing of estuarine waters upon crossing the threshold from transport to supply regulation of sediment transport as an erodible sediment pool is depleted: San Francisco Bay, 1999
Estuaries and Coasts
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Abstract
The quantity of suspended sediment in an estuary is regulated either by transport, where energy or time needed to suspend sediment is limiting, or by supply, where the quantity of erodible sediment is limiting. This paper presents a hypothesis that suspended-sediment concentration (SSC) in estuaries can suddenly decrease when the threshold from transport to supply regulation is crossed as an erodible sediment pool is depleted. This study was motivated by a statistically significant 36% step decrease in SSC in San Francisco Bay from water years 1991–1998 to 1999–2007. A quantitative conceptual model of an estuary with an erodible sediment pool and transport or supply regulation of sediment transport is developed. Model results confirm that, if the regulation threshold was crossed in 1999, SSC would decrease rapidly after water year 1999 as observed. Estuaries with a similar history of a depositional sediment pulse followed by erosion may experience sudden clearing.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Sudden clearing of estuarine waters upon crossing the threshold from transport to supply regulation of sediment transport as an erodible sediment pool is depleted: San Francisco Bay, 1999 |
| Series title | Estuaries and Coasts |
| DOI | 10.1007/s12237-011-9382-x |
| Volume | 34 |
| Issue | 5 |
| Year Published | 2011 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Springer |
| Publisher location | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Contributing office(s) | California Water Science Center, San Francisco Bay-Delta |
| Description | 15 p. |
| First page | 885 |
| Last page | 899 |
| Time Range Start | 1999-01-01 |
| Time Range End | 1999-12-31 |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Other Geospatial | San Francisco Bay |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |