Three-dimensional model system for baroclinic estuarine dynamics and suspended sediment transport in a mesotidal estuary

A coupled 3D-baroclinic hydrodynamic and cohesive sediment transport model applied to the Western Scheldt estuary is presented. The use of the two-fold sigma coordinate considerably improves the results on intertidal zones. The simulations provide an insight into the effetcs of stratification and its tidal asymmetry into the sediment transport. The calculated density current show an intensity two order of magnitute lower than the residual barotropic currents. The turbidity maximum is not directly associate to the density currents but mainly with the variation of estuarine horizontal area. Numerical results are compared with field measurements at several locations.