3D Hydrodynamic Modeling of Sediment Dynamics on Roberts Bank, Fraser River Foreslope, Strait of Georgia Canada

A fully three-dimensional, nested grid, integrated circulation-wave-sediment-geomorphology numerical model, COCIRM-SED, was developed to study sediment dynamics on Roberts Bank, Fraser River foreslope, Strait of Georgia, Canada. Roberts Bank is an extensive intertidal zone, located just south of where the main (South Arm) Fraser River channel enters the Strait of Georgia. The substrate of Roberts Bank is primarily silty sand, and a total of four grain size classes were considered in the model. The study area of interest is modeled using a fine grid size of 100 m by 100 m, and is nested within the much larger domain of the Strait of Georgia with a coarser grid size of 500 m by 500 m. These two model domains are solved together at every time step using a fully dynamic and two-way connection scheme. Following initial testing with idealized analytical cases, the COCIRM-SED modeled flows and suspended sediment concentration were calibrated and verified using the data obtained with a configurable multi-sensor tripod system on the Bank and at the edge of the Bank, respectively. These field data, including month-long ADCP current profiles, OBS sediment concentrations, and directional wave measurements, are used to examine the model performance. The preliminary model results provide improved understandings of the sediment dynamics on Roberts Bank.