Modeling of the transport of suspended solids in the Estuary of Zhujiang River

A three-dimensional transport model of suspended solids in the Estuary of Zhujiang River is developed by coupling with the three-dimensional hydrodynamic model.The model is validated using the hourly measured data of sediment contents during 25-26, July 1999.The results show that model contents match well with the measured ones and the modeled distribution of top layer agrees with the remote sensing image of suspended solids in summer season.The modeled results show clear layers of the distribution of suspended solids in depth with larger sediment contents in the lower layers though in the interface of salt water and freshwater the lowest contents appear in middle layer.In a total view, the suspended solids inflowing from the 8 rivers transport southwestwards with the carry of strong coastal flow in the Estuary of Zhujiang River.Contours of sediment contents in the Estuary of Zhujiang River spread further to the out sea in the ebb tide than the flood tide, which reflects that suspended solids in the Estuary of Zhujiang River are terrigenous.