Migrating subaqueous dunes capture clay flocs
Abstract Recent research highlights the abundance of floccule (flocs) in rivers, formed by aggregation of clay particles with organic matter. These flocs affect the transport and the eventual fate of clay. Flocs exhibit distinct behaviour from the unflocculated sedimentary counterparts: they can def...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Communications Earth & Environment |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01901-x |
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| author | Sjoukje I. de Lange Anne van der Wilk Claire Chassagne Waqas Ali Maximilian P. Born Kristian Brodersen Antonius J. F. Hoitink Kryss Waldschläger |
| author_facet | Sjoukje I. de Lange Anne van der Wilk Claire Chassagne Waqas Ali Maximilian P. Born Kristian Brodersen Antonius J. F. Hoitink Kryss Waldschläger |
| author_sort | Sjoukje I. de Lange |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Recent research highlights the abundance of floccule (flocs) in rivers, formed by aggregation of clay particles with organic matter. These flocs affect the transport and the eventual fate of clay. Flocs exhibit distinct behaviour from the unflocculated sedimentary counterparts: they can deform and break, and have higher settling velocities, which may in turn cause flocs to deposit and possibly interact with the riverbed. Here, we conducted systematic experiments in a laboratory flume to identify the mechanisms by which flocs and bedforms interact. Flocs showed a saltating (bouncing) behaviour, and were incorporated in the sediment bed as single flocs, clusters, or strings, via deposition and burial in the lee of a dune. Dune geometry was negligibly impacted by the presence of flocs. In natural systems, the burial of flocculated clay particles can affect contaminant spreading, aquatic ecology, the interpretation of deposition patterns, and clay transport. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-90a3388cfc064e00889bfd09f6deee76 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2662-4435 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Earth & Environment |
| spelling | doaj-art-90a3388cfc064e00889bfd09f6deee762025-08-20T02:33:00ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Earth & Environment2662-44352024-11-015111210.1038/s43247-024-01901-xMigrating subaqueous dunes capture clay flocsSjoukje I. de Lange0Anne van der Wilk1Claire Chassagne2Waqas Ali3Maximilian P. Born4Kristian Brodersen5Antonius J. F. Hoitink6Kryss Waldschläger7Hydrology and Environmental Hydraulics Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University & ResearchHydrology and Environmental Hydraulics Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University & ResearchFaculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of TechnologyFaculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of TechnologyInstitute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management, RWTH-Aachen UniversityInstitute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management, RWTH-Aachen UniversityHydrology and Environmental Hydraulics Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University & ResearchHydrology and Environmental Hydraulics Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University & ResearchAbstract Recent research highlights the abundance of floccule (flocs) in rivers, formed by aggregation of clay particles with organic matter. These flocs affect the transport and the eventual fate of clay. Flocs exhibit distinct behaviour from the unflocculated sedimentary counterparts: they can deform and break, and have higher settling velocities, which may in turn cause flocs to deposit and possibly interact with the riverbed. Here, we conducted systematic experiments in a laboratory flume to identify the mechanisms by which flocs and bedforms interact. Flocs showed a saltating (bouncing) behaviour, and were incorporated in the sediment bed as single flocs, clusters, or strings, via deposition and burial in the lee of a dune. Dune geometry was negligibly impacted by the presence of flocs. In natural systems, the burial of flocculated clay particles can affect contaminant spreading, aquatic ecology, the interpretation of deposition patterns, and clay transport.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01901-x |
| spellingShingle | Sjoukje I. de Lange Anne van der Wilk Claire Chassagne Waqas Ali Maximilian P. Born Kristian Brodersen Antonius J. F. Hoitink Kryss Waldschläger Migrating subaqueous dunes capture clay flocs Communications Earth & Environment |
| title | Migrating subaqueous dunes capture clay flocs |
| title_full | Migrating subaqueous dunes capture clay flocs |
| title_fullStr | Migrating subaqueous dunes capture clay flocs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Migrating subaqueous dunes capture clay flocs |
| title_short | Migrating subaqueous dunes capture clay flocs |
| title_sort | migrating subaqueous dunes capture clay flocs |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01901-x |
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