Near-Field Behavior of Dredging Spill in Shallow Water

Abstract

This note summarizes the results of an experimental study on the near-field spreading of dredging spill from hopper suction dredgers operating in shallow water. A diagram is constructed that can be used to establish the importance of spreading by mixing and by density currents. In the latter case, the radial dispersion of the dredging spill can be assessed from a simple formula describing the gravitational spread of heavy clouds.