Tide-Induced Bottom Current and Sediment Resuspension in Halifax Harbour

Abstract

Halifax Harbour, a crucial Atlantic Canadian port, has extensive commercial, environmental, and strategic value to Canadians. Despite thorough hydrographic research, knowledge about the influence of the bottom current on the resuspension of sediments within the Harbour is lacking. To address this knowledge gap, we utilized a high-resolution, three-dimensional, barotropic finite volume community ocean model (FVCOM) to simulate the tidal-driven maximum bottom current in the Harbour. We used the critical Shields parameter, a threshold for sediment movement, to quantify the areas susceptible to sediment resuspension. Our results indicate that regions in the Narrows and west of McNabs Island are susceptible to sediment resuspension due to the interaction of maximum bottom current and sediment grain sizes. These findings are important for detecting sediment changes in the Harbour and potentially improving existing monitoring and management practices.