Sedimentation of river-transported particles in the Öre estuary, northern Sweden

Abstract

Sedimentation of river transported particles in the Öre Estuary was studied during spring flow (April–May, 1989). River input was calculated as the product of discharge and particle concentration in the river water. The concentration of suspended matter in the estuary water was determined with a light-scattering probe at 25 depth profiles throughout the estuary. The sedimentation was measured using sediment traps on 5 stations along a line from the river mouth to the mouth of the estuary. Sampling was carried out on four dates with different water discharge.

The extension of the particle plume varied during the observation period mainly due to variation in river discharge. The maximum extension of the river plume occurred during the peak of the spring flow and covered approximately 70% of the estuary area. The sedimentation rates were generally high and the average retention time for a particle in the water column was less than 1 day which verifies that the river transported fine-grained particles are primary deposited within the estuary. The major part of the river input of suspended matter was deposited near the river mouth. There was a surplus of the total sedimentation compared to the river input which was due to wave-induced resuspension, especially in the eastern part of the estuary.