Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Development Of The Turbidity Maximum In A Coastal Plain Estuary : Final Report, Maynard M. Nichols, Galen Thompson

Reports

A study of the turbidity maximum in the Rappahannock Estuary; Virginia was conducted to determine how high concentrations of suspended sediment accumulate to form a maximum.

Time-series observations of current velocity, salinity and suspended sediment over 8 to 18 tidal cycles reveal that the maximum forms in a convergence of bottom residual currents near the transition between fresh and salty water. Sediment supplied mainly by the river is transported into the convergence by density currents and accumulates since velocity is nearly zero and settling exceeds upward mixing.

The maximum forms in the middle estuary after freshet or flooding and shifts …

Inner Shelf Sediments Off Chesapeake Bay. Iii, Heavy Minerals, Bruce K. Goodwin, John B. Thomas

Reports

The heavy minerals in the sand sized fraction of 112 grab samples collected off the Virginia coast were analyzed for their variations in mineralogy. The main purpose was to characterize the heavy mineral suite and to delineate potentially important economic areas.