MUDBED: Multi-Disciplinary Benthic Exchange Dynamics

Controls on seabed erodibility and suspended particle settling velocity are among the two largest unknowns limiting accurate prediction of fine sediment transport in muddy coastal environments. These two parameters are difficult to predict in large part because biological effects fundamentally impact them over short temporal and spatial scales. The MUDBED study, funded by the NSF CoOP Program, is placing real-time observing platforms at locations of contrasting intensities of sediment transport and benthic biological activity within the York River estuary, Virginia, in order to gain insight into biological and physical controls on seabed and suspended particle properties. A combination of acoustic and video imaging of the seabed and lower water column, along with rapid-response and ground-truthing via direct sampling, are being used to identify changes in biologic activity, deposition, erosion, suspended sediment properties and bedform evolution that, in turn, trigger or otherwise indicate changes in bed erodibility and/or sediment settling velocity. Open source numerical modeling of water column processes, suspended particle properties, erosion and deposition, and seabed evolution are being coupled to the observing effort with the goal of fundamentally advancing the predictability of fine sediment transport.