Numerical modelling of hydrodynamic and sediment-bacteria interaction processes in estuarine and coastal waters

A study has been undertaken to investigate and improve the representation and modelling of a range of various hydrodynamic, biochemical and sediment transport processes relating to the transport of enteric bacteria organisms in estuarine waters. In this study a relatively simple turbulence model was first further investigated to predict the complex three-dimensional flow structure in a flume with vegetation. The main purpose of this part of the study was to try and acquire accurate velocity profiles of complex flows without the need for a more advanced two-equation turbulence model, requiring values for a number of unknown coefficients and extra computing cost. The results showed that the simple two layer mixing length model was capable of giving more accurate complex velocity profile predictions, with the advantage of requiring limited coefficient data. Formulations developed through earlier studies for dynamic decay rates were then refined and included in the numerical model. The model predictions were tested against field data, with good agreement being obtained. Further refinements to the representation of the transport of bacteria through the flow field were included in the model by the novel addition of the interaction of bacteria with the sediments by partitioning the total bacteria into their free-living and attached phases using a dynamic partitioning ratio. This ratio was related to the suspended sediment concentrations. The novel method used in this study was to include the re-suspension and deposition of the absorbed bacteria with the sediments and this approach has been tested against analytical solutions for steady uniform flow conditions, and published field and experimental data. The model was then applied to the Severn Estuary. After calibration against available data sets the model was then run for different scenarios to investigate the effects of different hydro-environmental conditions on the bacteria distributions in the Severn Estuary. The model was finally used to investigate the impact of the proposed Cardiff-Weston tidal barrage on the hydrodynamic, the sediment transport and bacterial processes within the Severn Estuary. The results showed that the barrage would reduce the currents, as well as significantly reducing the suspended sediment concentrations and bacteria concentration levels in the estuary