Search Results (3)

The Magdalena River Estuary hosts the access channel to the Port of Barranquilla, where recurrent dredging is required to maintain navigable depths of up to approximately 12 m. Chronic siltation in this channel is closely linked to the dynamics of the Turbidity Maximum Zone (TMZ), which remain poorly understood in tropical, microtidal systems with extreme sediment loads. This study investigates the spatiotemporal variability of the TMZ in the Magdalena River Estuary (MRE), Colombia, using a previously calibrated and validated MOHID 3D numerical model coupled with sediment transport. Sixteen scenarios covering river discharges from 2000 to 5500 m³ s⁻¹ under neap and spring tidal conditions were analyzed. Results show that the TMZ core position follows a nonlinear inverse relationship with discharge (R² = 0.976), migrating from km 13–15 under extreme low-flow conditions (Q = 2000 m³ s⁻¹) to the estuary mouth for discharges above 5000 m³ s⁻¹. Within the simulated discharge range of 2000–5500 m³ s⁻¹ and under the modeled neap and spring tidal conditions, the position where ε = 0.005 tracks the TMZ core location (R² = 0.96, RMSE ≈ 1 km), suggesting that this threshold can be used as a first-order spatial indicator of maximum sedimentation under the conditions evaluated in this study. Contrary to macrotidal estuaries, the MRE exhibits higher suspended-sediment concentrations during neap tides than during spring tides, with SSC up to 77 percent greater for Q = 2000 m³ s⁻¹. This reversal is driven by the suppression of turbulent mixing (R_i > 20) during neap conditions, which preserves the salt-wedge structure and enhances stratification-controlled sediment trapping. These results provide two process-based criteria for predicting turbidity-maximum behavior in the MRE: the ε = 0.005 stratification isoline and the discharge–TMZ polynomial. More broadly, the methodological framework may support the development of site-specific predictors for other highly stratified, microtidal estuaries subject to strong discharge variability. Full article

The linkage between the salt wedge, tidal patterns, and the Magdalena River discharge is established by assessing the ensuing parameters: stratification (ϵ), buoyancy frequency (β), potential energy anomaly (φ), Richardson number by layers (RL), and bottom turbulent energy production (P). The salinity, temperature, density, and water velocity data utilized were derived from MOHID 3D, a previously tailored and validated model for the Magdalena River estuary. To grasp the dynamics of the river, a flow regime analysis was conducted during both the wet and dry climatic seasons of the Colombian Caribbean. The utilization of this model aimed to delineate the estuary’s spatial reach, considering flow rates spanning from 2000 to 6500 m³/s across two tidal cycles. This approach facilitates the prediction of the position, stability, and stratification degree of the salt front. Among the conclusions drawn, it is highlighted that: 1. The river flow serves as the principal conditioning agent for the system, inducing a strong estuary response to weather stations; 2. The extent of wedge intrusion and the river discharge exhibit a non-linear, inversely correlation; 3. Tidal waves cause differences of up to 1000 m in the horizontal extent of the wedge; 4. Widespread channel erosion occurs during the rainy season when the salt intrusion does not exceed 2 km; 5. Flocculation processes intensify during the transition between the dry and wet seasons; 6. The stability of the salt layering and the consolidation of the FSI–TMZ are contingent upon the geometric attributes of the channel. Full article

This article contains methods, results, and analysis agreed for the development of an application based on the internet of things and making use of machine learning techniques that serves as a support for the identification of the saline wedge in the Magdalena River estuary, Colombia. As a result of this investigation, the process of identifying the most suitable telecommunications architecture to be installed in the estuary is shown, as well as the characteristics of the software developed called SISME (Estuary Monitoring System), and the results obtained after the implementation of prediction techniques based on time series. This implementation supports the maritime security of the port of Barranquilla since it can support decision-making related to the estuary. This research is the result of the project “Implementation of a Wireless System of Temperature, Conductivity and Pressure Sensors to support the identification of the saline wedge and its impact on the maritime safety of the Magdalena River estuary”. Full article