Principles and processes of sediment transport - Factors controlling the movement of sediment

7 important questions on Principles and processes of sediment transport - Factors controlling the movement of sediment

What are the four modes of sediment transport?

1. Sliding (=bedload) (occurs in slower flow)
2. Rolling (=bedload) (occurs in slower flow)
3. Saltation (=bedload) (occurs in faster flow)
4. Suspension (=suspended load) (seldom in contact with the bed) (occurs in faster flow)

What is a boundary layer?

A boundary layer is the region of flow influenced by proximity to the surface. A boundary layer develops where ever a fluid movees over a surface

What feature exist between two water layers?

There exist a shear stress, due to the layer above and below. The speed of water increases systematically with distance from the bed.
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What is the benthic boundary layer?

In the benthic boundary layer, most of the erosion and deposition (and most of the transport) of sediment takes places. The benthich boundary layer is adjacent to the sea-bed.

Where does the extent of sediment transported depend on?

It depends on the degree of turbulence and the current shear. It also depends upon the nature (composisiton) and roughness of the bed.

What are other factors controlling the sediment transport?

- Densities of the particles and water (the contrast between particles and water)
- Viscosity of the water
- Laminar or turbulent flow

What is the difference between cohesive and non-cohesive sediments?

Cohesive sediments stick together with a lot of particles, cohesiviness results mainly from the presence of clay minerals in the sediment.
In non-cohesive sediments there is a lack of physico-chemical interaction, so the particles are free to move independently.

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