Open AccessSensitivity analysis of sediment resuspension parameters in coastal area of southern Lake Michigan
Author(s) -
Lee Cheegwan,
Schwab David J.,
Hawley Nathan
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: oceans
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2004jc002326
Subject(s) - settling , sediment , erosion , environmental science , hydrology (agriculture) , geology , shear stress , soil science , oceanography , geomorphology , geotechnical engineering , environmental engineering , materials science , composite material
Model sensitivity analysis was performed to identify and compare quantitatively the important resuspension parameters in the coastal area of southern Lake Michigan. A one‐dimensional resuspension and bed model capable of dealing with the type of mixed sediments (fine‐grained+sand) common in the coastal area was developed and utilized to compare with measured suspended sediment concentrations. The results show that the most sensitive parameters in the model are the fraction of fine‐grained materials and sediment availability. Other resuspension parameters such as settling velocity, critical shear stress, and erosion rate constant are also found to be important and may cause up to a 40% difference in suspended sediment concentration. Among those, the absolute magnitude of settling velocity is most crucial in controlling the first order prediction.