Hydrodynamics and sediment transport in a southeast Florida tidal inlet

A three-dimensional ocean circulation model is used to investigate the hydrodynamics of a tidal inlet and deltas system in Southeast Florida, and to understand the consequences for suspended and bedload sediment transport patterns. The model reproduces observed tidal currents and provides insight about residual currents caused by spatial asymmetries in the inlet throat and tidal deltas during ebb and flood flows. A particle-tracking approach for suspended and bedload sediment transport is used to simulate deposition patterns for different particle sizes. The simulation results qualitatively correlate with the distribution of sediment characteristics within the tidal inlet and deltas system and demonstrate sensitivity to the choice of advection velocities (e.g., near-bottom versus depth-averaged) and regions of sediment origin. Furthermore, the distinction between suspended and bedload transport as a function of particle size indicates significant differences in deposition patterns and their potential connection to geomorphologic features of the tidal inlet and deltas system.