High-resolution comparison of sediment dynamics under different forcing conditions in the bottom boundary layer of a shallow, micro-tidal estuary

Abstract

5000m3 s-1), the entire water column in shallow areas of the Bay was influenced by freshwater input. Therefore, the thermohaline anomaly's contribution to the stratification considerably weakened, while the SSC's contribution strengthened. When the freshwater discharge was relatively low (<5000m3 s-1), a critical wind stress for sediment erosion (0.08-0.1Pa) was observed to abruptly increase the SSC. Despite a micro-tidal regime, Mobile Bay exhibited the cyclic erosion and deposition pattern induced by the tidal acceleration and deceleration. © 2012 American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.