Effects of Shear Stress and Salinity Stratification on Floc Size Distribution During the Dry Season in the Modaomen Estuary of the Pearl River

Abstract

The floc size distribution of fine cohesive sediments in estuaries varies spatiotemporally within assorted physical, chemical, and biological factors. However, the distribution of different floc fractions that are affected by shear stress and salinity stratification has not yet been thoroughly investigated. This study intends to clarify the floc size distribution within the influences of turbulent shear rate and salinity stratification, and the implications for the flocculation process during the dry season in the Modaomen Estuary of the Pearl River. The decomposition of multimodal floc size distributions (FSDs) indicates that the floc fractions were composed of macroflocs (Macro), microflocs (Micro), Flocculi, and primary particles (Pp). Macro generally existed among the upper and middle layers, but smaller flocs, i.e., Micro, Flocculi, and Pp, were mostly concentrated in the bottom layer. The results agreed that the flocculation and deflocculation processes were dominant in the upper and bottom layers, respectively. In response to strong turbulent shear rates, FSDs in the bottom layer skewed toward small sizes and had a dual-peak tendency with frequent floc exchanges between Pp and Micro, then being Pp-dominant but converting to Micro when turbulent shear rates decreased. With impeded vertical mixing by salinity stratification, the FSDs in the upper or middle layers skewed toward a larger particle size with single peaks and lack of exchange among different floc fractions, leading to Macro dominance with a larger volume concentration and median size. In addition, turbulence mixing dramatically interfered with the good mixing of floc fractions amidst the vertical water column, with a low-salinity condition greatly affecting the formation of Macro in the bottom layer within proper turbulent shear rates. This study explores the effects of shear stress and salinity stratification on the flocculation process in the Modaomen Estuary, which contributes to a better understanding of sediment movement in a complex estuarine environment.