Downdrift Port Siltation Adjacent to a River Mouth: Mechanisms and Effects of Littoral Sediment Transport to the Navigation Channel

The mechanisms controlling sediment transport at river mouths and estuaries nearby ports are complicated interactions among waves, tidal currents, and river flows over complex bathymetry. Episodic river discharge triggered by large rainfall may contribute to significant sediment into the ocean. Over the last decade, the exposed riverine sediment from the Zhuoshui River, north of Mailiao Port, is one of the major sources of sediment supply in this region. Previous field observations shortly after the passage of a typhoon suggested fine-grained sediments settled rapidly near the river mouth, and tidal currents and strong wind-driven waves during winter were the mechanisms that transported sediment toward the navigational channel. Numerical simulations provide insights into the patterns of residual circulations for a range of spring-neap tidal forces and wave conditions. Model results show that extending North Jetty could be one of the engineering countermeasures to modify the circulation system between the port and the river mouth to mitigate the siltation problem.

Automated summary

The mechanisms controlling sediment transport at river mouths and estuaries nearby ports are complex interactions among waves, tidal currents, and river flows over complex bathymetry. Episodic river discharge triggered by large rainfall may contribute to significant sediment into the ocean. Previous field observations suggest that fine-grained sediments settled rapidly near the river mouth after a typhoon, with tidal currents and strong wind-driven waves during winter being the mechanisms that transported sediment toward the navigational channel. Numerical simulations provide insights into the patterns of residual circulations for a range of spring-neap tidal forces and wave conditions, showing that extending North Jetty could be an engineering countermeasure to modify the circulation system between the port and the river mouth to mitigate the siltation problem.