A dynamic 2DH flocculation model for coastal domains

A dynamic two-dimensional depth-averaged (2DH) parameterization for flocculation of cohesive sediments is proposed based on the kinetic model by Winterwerp (J Hydraul Res 36:309–326, 1998). The aim is to achieve a realistic representation of the suspended sediment field by accounting for flocculation, also taking into consideration its dependence on advection, turbulent diffusion, and turbulent shear. This formulation is evaluated in a sand-mud model of the Belgian Coast and the Western Scheldt. Results indicate that it can reproduce known sediment transport patterns: modelled floc size and suspended sediment concentrations are in the range of measurements. When evaluating the model results spatially, the extent and shape of the coastal sediment plumes are similar to the observed suspended particle matter (SPM) maps from the PROBA-V satellite. Therefore, the use of the presently proposed flocculation model has added value to improve sediment transport calculations in coastal areas.