FIELD OBSERVATIONS OF TURBULENCE AND SUSPENDED SEDIMENTS OVER AN INTERTIDAL REEF

Resumen

Sediment suspension and sedimentation affect coral reef ecosystem by altering physical and biological processes. In general, sediment suspension is controlled by the hydrodynamics of turbulence in reef systems (Pomeroy et al., 2017). The structures of colonies increase roughness and enhance turbulence mixing in coral reefs, which might affect sediment suspension. However, such complex processes between the sediment suspension and turbulence in natural reef systems are not well understood. Here, we present field observations of turbulence and suspended sediment concentration (SSC) over an intertidal reef flat. This research aims to understand, quantify, parameterize, and study the physical process of SSC variations, and, to investigate how the turbulence affecting the variation of SSC on the reef flat.