T181 Estuarine and Fjord Sedimentary Processes in Modern and Holocene Systems
Monday, 6 October 2008
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
MUDBED: Multi-Disciplinary Benthic Exchange Dynamics
Paper number: T181-1
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 8:00 AM – 8:15 AM
Authors
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Carl T. Friedrichs Presenting AuthorVirginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary, Gloucester Point, VA
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Robert J. DiazVirginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary, Gloucester Point, VA
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Courtney K. HarrisVirginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary, Gloucester Point, VA
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Steven A. KuehlVirginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary, Gloucester Point, VA
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Jesse E. McNinchVirginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary, Gloucester Point, VA
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Lawrence P. SanfordUniversity of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Horn Point Lab, Cambridge, MD
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Linda C. SchaffnerVirginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary, Gloucester Point, VA
Abstract
Controls on seabed erodibility and suspended particle settling velocity are among the two largest unknowns limiting accurate prediction of fine sediment transport in muddy coastal environments. These two parameters are difficult to predict in large part because biological effects fundamentally impact them over short temporal and spatial scales. The MUDBED study, funded by the NSF CoOP Program, is placing real-time observing platforms at locations of contrasting intensities of sediment transport and benthic biological activity within the York River estuary, Virginia, in order to gain insight into biological and physical controls on seabed and suspended particle properties. A combination of acoustic and video imaging of the seabed and lower water column, along with rapid-response and ground-truthing via direct sampling, are being used to identify changes in biologic activity, deposition, erosion, suspended sediment properties and bedform evolution that, in turn, trigger or otherwise indicate changes in bed erodibility and/or sediment settling velocity. Open source numerical modeling of water column processes, suspended particle properties, erosion and deposition, and seabed evolution are being coupled to the observing effort with the goal of fundamentally advancing the predictability of fine sediment transport.