A preliminary implication of the constant erosion rate model to simulate turbidity maximums in the York River, Virginia, USA

Numerical simulation of the formation of an Estuarine Turbidity Maximum (ETM) using a constant erosion rate with a stipulated condition that erosion only occurs at tidal accelerating phases was successfully implemented in a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model for the York River. Eight slackwater surveys were carried out during 2001 and 2002 to develop ground truths with measurements at 25 stations along the 120-km York River. Measured salinity and total suspended solid profiles were used to develop “snap shots” for calibration and comparison of results from the numerical simulations. This study indicates that the suggested simple erosion model is capable of simulating suspended sediment transport for addressing the formation of ETM(s). Both the ETM and an occasionally observed secondary turbidity maximum were simulated reasonably well.