A new study of the near-field dynamic plume behavior of disposed fine sediments (https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2024.1416521) is out in Frontiers. We validate our previously developed open-source, near-field model PROVER-M (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.softx.2023.101407 in SoftwareX) to mimic the behavior of fine sediments disposed in coastal waters by using sophisticated laboratory experiments.
We further applied our model to various scenarios, including field-scale studies and parametric analyses. Results show that the disposal's impact is highly dependent on the ambient conditions and the properties of the dredged material, e.g. the material's composition and the site's characteristics significantly influence the disposal's spread and its effects on suspended sediment concentrations (SSC).
By coupling PROVER-M with a far-field model, our study demonstrates its potential to accurately predict the impact of disposals on SSC in real-world scenarios, such as the Weser estuary in Germany. The model's ability to provide valuable insights into the near-field dynamics of sediment disposals makes it a valuable tool for environmental impact assessments and management strategies in dredging operations.
Gundlach J, Herbst M, Alex AS, Zorndt A, Jordan C, Visscher J and Schlurmann T (2024) Simulating the near-field dynamic plume behavior of disposed fine sediments. Front. Mar. Sci. 11:1416521. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2024.1416521
