Work

Determination of suspended sediment concentration in the Grijalva-Usumacinta River System, Southern Gulf of Mexico

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: In this study, suspended sediment concentrations in the Grijalva-Usumacinta River System (GURS), southern Gulf of Mexico, were obtained using records of acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) backscatter, current speed, and suspended solid concentrations (SSC) of water samples collected throughout a tidal cycle in October 2010 and September and November 2011. A model was obtained using linear regression statistical analysis to estimate the SSC using backscatter values. The results indicate that the estimated average concentrations of SSC were 0.13 g L−1. The tidal regime governs the current velocities near the mouth of the river and the SSCs. The average flow of the Grijalva-Usumacinta River is 5136 m3 s−1, transporting a sediment load of 214.1 $$\times$$ × 103 to 1467.2 $$\times$$ × 103 m3 month−1. The sediment was predominantly silt and clay comprising terrigenous inorganic matter. A highly dynamic mouth bar is generated by suspended sediment transport.

Source: Arabian Journal of Geosciences

DOI: 10.1007/s12517-025-12292-4

Authors: Leonid Ignacio Márquez-García, David Alberto Salas-de-León, Gilberto Exposito-Díaz

Institutions: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología

Language: English

Topic: Coastal and Marine Dynamics

Subfield: Earth-Surface Processes

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Clean water and sanitation

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,090