Field Measurement of Bottom-Boundary-Layer and Sediment-Transport Processes in Support of the STRATAFORM Shelf Dynamics and Plume Studies

摘要

Specific objectives of efforts to date have been: a) to characterize the spatial and temporal variability of bed roughness; b) to obtain estimates of time-varying bed stresses at two sites on two across-shelf transects of the mid shelf including one transect in close proximity to the Eel River plume source; c) to evaluate sediment resuspension and flux in response to observed stresses at multiple sites; d) to examine the effects of abundant under- consolidated fine sediment on bottom-boundary-layer processes; and e) to examine bottom-boundary-layer processes and transport mechanisms associated with sediment-laden flood plumes from Eel River. Over the past year (October 1997-October 1998) we have been focusing particularly on the role of easily- suspended mud in damping turbulence and favoring further mud deposition.