Surface Flows Over Intertidal Marshes

by Flora C. Wang, Louisiana State Univ, Baton Rouge, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Hydraulic Engineering

Abstract:

A marsh-flow measuring device has been designed to quantify the flow across the marsh surface. The fluorometric technique by tracking the visible substance (Rhodamine red dye) applied to the water surface was used. Marsh sites adjacent to tidal channels/bayous near two shallow embayments in South Louisiana were selected. Marsh surface flow measurements were conducted over a tidal cycle during spring/neap tides. The results of field experiments showed that water depth on the marsh surface changed rapidly in response to tidal inundations and prevailing winds. The over-marsh surface flow velocity varied from 1.0 to 10.0 cm/sec. Based on our limited data sets, our results indicated that flow velocities across the marsh surface were asymmetrical. This asymmetry may play an important role on the net transport of sediments to salt marshes from coastal waters or vice versa.

Subject Headings: Flow measurement | Tides | Sediment transport | Overland flow | Water surface | Salt water | Fluid velocity | Louisiana | United States

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