Convective instability in sedimentation: 3‐ D numerical study

Abstract To provide a probable explanation on the field observed rapid sedimentation process near river mouths, we investigate the convective sedimentation in stably stratified saltwater using 3‐D numerical simulations. Guided by the linear stability analysis, this study focuses on the nonlinear interactions of several mechanisms, which lead to various sediment finger patterns, and the effective settling velocity for sediment ranging from clay (single‐particle settling velocity V 0  = 0.0036 and 0.0144 mm/s, or particle diameter d  = 2 and 4 μm) to silt ( V 0  = 0.36 mm/s, or d  = 20 μm). For very fine sediment with V 0  = 0.0036 mm/s, the convective instability is dominated by double diffusion, characterized by millimeter‐scale fingers. Gravitational settling slightly increases the growth rate; however, it has notable effect on the downward development of vertical mixing shortly after the sediment interface migrates below the salt interface. For sediment with V 0  = 0.0144 mm/s, Rayleigh‐Taylor instabilities become dominant before double‐diffusive modes grow sufficiently large. Centimeter‐scale and highly asymmetric sediment fingers are obtained due to nonlinear interactions between different modes. For sediment with V 0  = 0.36 mm/s, Rayleigh‐Taylor mechanism dominates and the resulting centimeter‐scale sediment fingers show a plume‐like structure. The flow pattern is similar to that without ambient salt stratification. Rapid sedimentation with effective settling velocity on the order of 1 cm/s is likely driven by convective sedimentation for sediment with V 0 greater than 0.1 mm/s at concentration greater than 10–20 g/L.