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Characteristics of Suspended Particulate Matter and the Coastal Turbidity Maximum Areas of the Mekong River



Author(s)

Vu Duy Vinh1, Tran Anh Tu1, Tran Dinh Lan1 and Nguyen Ngoc Tien2

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DOI:10.17265/2162-5298/2015.02.002

1. Institute of Marine Environment and Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Haiphong 35999, Vietnam
2. Institute of Marine Geology and Geophysics, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi 10999, Vietnam

This paper presents the results of application of a 3D (three-dimensional) numerical model to study on MTZ (maximum turbidity zone) in the coastal zone of Mekong River Delta. In this study, a 3D system model with combination of hydrodynamics—wave and suspended sediment transport was set up and validated with measured data in the study area. Based on calculated scenarios for the flood and the dry season, the results have shown appearance of MTZs in the coastal zone of Mekong River with suspended sediment concentration prevalent of 0.04-0.07 kg·m^-3 (the dry season) and 0.05-0.1 kg·m^-3 (the flood season). The position and MTZs scale change with the interaction between fresh water and tidal oscillations. The MTZ occur more in the dry seasons compared to the wet season. The MTZs are prevalent located far away from estuaries about in 12-22 km (in the dry season), and 5-15 km in the flood season.

Modelling, maximum turbidity zone, suspended sediment transport, Me Kong river coastal area.