Testing magnetic tracers as indicators of sediment transport in a wave flume experiment

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer review

Authors

  • Soraia Romão
  • João Cascalho
  • Caroline C. Ferreira
  • Eric Font
  • Rui Taborda
  • Paulo A. Silva
  • João F. Duarte
  • Franziska Staudt

Research Organisations

External Research Organisations

  • Universidade de Lisboa
  • University of Aveiro
  • Madeira Ocean Observatory (OOM)
  • University of Coimbra
  • Instituto Hidrográfico
  • DHI A/S
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Details

Original languageEnglish
Number of pages17
JournalSEDIMENTOLOGY
Early online date7 Feb 2024
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 7 Feb 2024

Abstract

The in situ measurement of sediment transport in wave-dominated environments presents significant challenges and currently often relies upon the use of fluorescent sediment tracers. However, this method is constrained by challenges in conducting unbiased and representative sampling, as well as facing overall logistical complexities and labour-intensive procedures. Whilst other tracer techniques are available, such as using magnetic tracers, their performance in tracking sediment transport has not been quantified. The objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of magnetic tracers in evaluating net transport rates and tracer dispersal patterns. Conducted in a controlled large wave flume, the experiments simultaneously employed fluorescent and magnetic tracers, allowing a comprehensive comparison of the tracers' dispersion patterns and the net transport rates. Results show that the dispersal of magnetic and fluorescent tracers displays a high degree of spatial coherence in both horizontal and vertical dimensions. Similarly, net transport rates are comparable (<16% difference), both showing net transport in the direction of the wave propagation (towards onshore) driven by non-linear and streaming effects. Magnetic tracer recovery rate (49%) was lower than for fluorescent tracers (73%) and is attributed to the loss of magnetic ink from particles; an aspect of the magnetic technique that requires improvement. This study therefore indicates that the use of magnetic tracers to quantify sediment transport is an effective method with the advantages of being significantly less labour-intensive than using the commonly applied fluorescent sediment tracer method.

Keywords

    Flume experiment, isothermal remanent magnetization, magnetic susceptibility, magnetic tracers, sediment tracking, sediment transport

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Cite this

Testing magnetic tracers as indicators of sediment transport in a wave flume experiment. / Romão, Soraia; Cascalho, João; Ferreira, Caroline C. et al.
In: SEDIMENTOLOGY, 07.02.2024.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer review

Romão, S, Cascalho, J, Ferreira, CC, Font, E, Taborda, R, Silva, PA, Duarte, JF & Staudt, F 2024, 'Testing magnetic tracers as indicators of sediment transport in a wave flume experiment', SEDIMENTOLOGY. https://doi.org/10.1111/sed.13183
Romão, S., Cascalho, J., Ferreira, C. C., Font, E., Taborda, R., Silva, P. A., Duarte, J. F., & Staudt, F. (2024). Testing magnetic tracers as indicators of sediment transport in a wave flume experiment. SEDIMENTOLOGY. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/sed.13183
Romão S, Cascalho J, Ferreira CC, Font E, Taborda R, Silva PA et al. Testing magnetic tracers as indicators of sediment transport in a wave flume experiment. SEDIMENTOLOGY. 2024 Feb 7. Epub 2024 Feb 7. doi: 10.1111/sed.13183
Romão, Soraia ; Cascalho, João ; Ferreira, Caroline C. et al. / Testing magnetic tracers as indicators of sediment transport in a wave flume experiment. In: SEDIMENTOLOGY. 2024.
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title = "Testing magnetic tracers as indicators of sediment transport in a wave flume experiment",
abstract = "The in situ measurement of sediment transport in wave-dominated environments presents significant challenges and currently often relies upon the use of fluorescent sediment tracers. However, this method is constrained by challenges in conducting unbiased and representative sampling, as well as facing overall logistical complexities and labour-intensive procedures. Whilst other tracer techniques are available, such as using magnetic tracers, their performance in tracking sediment transport has not been quantified. The objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of magnetic tracers in evaluating net transport rates and tracer dispersal patterns. Conducted in a controlled large wave flume, the experiments simultaneously employed fluorescent and magnetic tracers, allowing a comprehensive comparison of the tracers' dispersion patterns and the net transport rates. Results show that the dispersal of magnetic and fluorescent tracers displays a high degree of spatial coherence in both horizontal and vertical dimensions. Similarly, net transport rates are comparable (<16% difference), both showing net transport in the direction of the wave propagation (towards onshore) driven by non-linear and streaming effects. Magnetic tracer recovery rate (49%) was lower than for fluorescent tracers (73%) and is attributed to the loss of magnetic ink from particles; an aspect of the magnetic technique that requires improvement. This study therefore indicates that the use of magnetic tracers to quantify sediment transport is an effective method with the advantages of being significantly less labour-intensive than using the commonly applied fluorescent sediment tracer method.",
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note = "Funding Information: Funding was provided by CESAM (UIDP/50017/2020 + UIDB/50017/2020 + LA/P/0094/2020), IDL [UIDB/50019/2020 ( https://doi.org/10.54499/UIDB/50019/2020 ) + UIDP/50019/2020 ( https://doi.org/10.54499/UIDP/50019/2020 ) + LA/P/0068/2020 ( https://doi.org/10.54499/LA/P/0068/2020 )], by FCT/MCTES through national funds (PIDDAC), and FEDER within the PT2020 Partnership Agreement and Compete 2020. Work performed under the scope of SANDTRACK project (POCI‐01‐0145‐FEDER‐031779) funded by FEDER, through COMPETE2020 – Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionaliza{\c c}{\~a}o (POCI), and by national funds (OE), through FCT/MCTES. The flume experiments were funded through the project STENCIL – Strategies and Tools for Environment‐friendly Shore Nourishment as Climate Change Impact Low‐Regret Measures (German Federal Ministry of Education and Research/BMBF, contract no. 03F0761). Thanks are due to Stefan Schimmels for all the support during the experiments and for providing the bed level measurements data. All the participants in the GWK experiments are gratefully acknowledged. S. R. is financed by FCT (SFRH/BD/129079/2017). Thanks are due to the journal reviewers (Stuart Pearson and Paul Myrow) and the editors for their constructive comments and thoughtful revision. ",
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