Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1498-1514 |
| Number of pages | 17 |
| Journal | SEDIMENTOLOGY |
| Volume | 71 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| Publication status | Published - 18 Jul 2024 |
Abstract
The in situ measurement of sediment transport in wave-dominated environments presents significant challenges and currently often relies upon the use of fluorescent sediment tracers. However, this method is constrained by challenges in conducting unbiased and representative sampling, as well as facing overall logistical complexities and labour-intensive procedures. Whilst other tracer techniques are available, such as using magnetic tracers, their performance in tracking sediment transport has not been quantified. The objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of magnetic tracers in evaluating net transport rates and tracer dispersal patterns. Conducted in a controlled large wave flume, the experiments simultaneously employed fluorescent and magnetic tracers, allowing a comprehensive comparison of the tracers' dispersion patterns and the net transport rates. Results show that the dispersal of magnetic and fluorescent tracers displays a high degree of spatial coherence in both horizontal and vertical dimensions. Similarly, net transport rates are comparable (<16% difference), both showing net transport in the direction of the wave propagation (towards onshore) driven by non-linear and streaming effects. Magnetic tracer recovery rate (49%) was lower than for fluorescent tracers (73%) and is attributed to the loss of magnetic ink from particles; an aspect of the magnetic technique that requires improvement. This study therefore indicates that the use of magnetic tracers to quantify sediment transport is an effective method with the advantages of being significantly less labour-intensive than using the commonly applied fluorescent sediment tracer method.
Keywords
- Flume experiment, isothermal remanent magnetization, magnetic susceptibility, magnetic tracers, sediment tracking, sediment transport
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Earth and Planetary Sciences(all)
- Geology
- Earth and Planetary Sciences(all)
- Stratigraphy
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In: SEDIMENTOLOGY, Vol. 71, No. 5, 18.07.2024, p. 1498-1514.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Testing magnetic tracers as indicators of sediment transport in a wave flume experiment
AU - Romão, Soraia
AU - Cascalho, João
AU - Ferreira, Caroline C.
AU - Font, Eric
AU - Taborda, Rui
AU - Silva, Paulo A.
AU - Duarte, João F.
AU - Staudt, Franziska
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024 The Authors. Sedimentology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Association of Sedimentologists.
PY - 2024/7/18
Y1 - 2024/7/18
N2 - The in situ measurement of sediment transport in wave-dominated environments presents significant challenges and currently often relies upon the use of fluorescent sediment tracers. However, this method is constrained by challenges in conducting unbiased and representative sampling, as well as facing overall logistical complexities and labour-intensive procedures. Whilst other tracer techniques are available, such as using magnetic tracers, their performance in tracking sediment transport has not been quantified. The objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of magnetic tracers in evaluating net transport rates and tracer dispersal patterns. Conducted in a controlled large wave flume, the experiments simultaneously employed fluorescent and magnetic tracers, allowing a comprehensive comparison of the tracers' dispersion patterns and the net transport rates. Results show that the dispersal of magnetic and fluorescent tracers displays a high degree of spatial coherence in both horizontal and vertical dimensions. Similarly, net transport rates are comparable (<16% difference), both showing net transport in the direction of the wave propagation (towards onshore) driven by non-linear and streaming effects. Magnetic tracer recovery rate (49%) was lower than for fluorescent tracers (73%) and is attributed to the loss of magnetic ink from particles; an aspect of the magnetic technique that requires improvement. This study therefore indicates that the use of magnetic tracers to quantify sediment transport is an effective method with the advantages of being significantly less labour-intensive than using the commonly applied fluorescent sediment tracer method.
AB - The in situ measurement of sediment transport in wave-dominated environments presents significant challenges and currently often relies upon the use of fluorescent sediment tracers. However, this method is constrained by challenges in conducting unbiased and representative sampling, as well as facing overall logistical complexities and labour-intensive procedures. Whilst other tracer techniques are available, such as using magnetic tracers, their performance in tracking sediment transport has not been quantified. The objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of magnetic tracers in evaluating net transport rates and tracer dispersal patterns. Conducted in a controlled large wave flume, the experiments simultaneously employed fluorescent and magnetic tracers, allowing a comprehensive comparison of the tracers' dispersion patterns and the net transport rates. Results show that the dispersal of magnetic and fluorescent tracers displays a high degree of spatial coherence in both horizontal and vertical dimensions. Similarly, net transport rates are comparable (<16% difference), both showing net transport in the direction of the wave propagation (towards onshore) driven by non-linear and streaming effects. Magnetic tracer recovery rate (49%) was lower than for fluorescent tracers (73%) and is attributed to the loss of magnetic ink from particles; an aspect of the magnetic technique that requires improvement. This study therefore indicates that the use of magnetic tracers to quantify sediment transport is an effective method with the advantages of being significantly less labour-intensive than using the commonly applied fluorescent sediment tracer method.
KW - Flume experiment
KW - isothermal remanent magnetization
KW - magnetic susceptibility
KW - magnetic tracers
KW - sediment tracking
KW - sediment transport
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85184192825&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/sed.13183
DO - 10.1111/sed.13183
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85184192825
VL - 71
SP - 1498
EP - 1514
JO - SEDIMENTOLOGY
JF - SEDIMENTOLOGY
SN - 0037-0746
IS - 5
ER -