Measurements of the turbid tidal edge over the Skeffling mudflats

Abstract

Abstract The effects of wave and current action on the shallow water’s edge are quantified, by describing the relationships between velocity, bed shear stress and suspended sediment concentration. Advective processes dominated the sediment fluxes. Wave effects were negligible and high concentrations were generally limited to the first few minutes of covering by the flood tide. Velocities over 0.5 m s −1 and concentrations above 10 gl −1 were measured in the advancing water’s edge at this time. For depths <1 m, there was a linear relationship between concentration and velocity. An apparent erosion threshold occurred at a velocity of 0.2 m s −1 .