On the Limitation of Turbidity Generation Unit

Abstract

The method of the turbidity generation unit (TGU) of Naki (1978) is simple and useful in estimating the rate of release of sediment into the ambient waters caused by coastal development works. However, it oversimplifies the related phenomena, which results in the inconsistency of the TGUs even in the sites of similar conditions. An alternatively simple empirical relationship between the rate and current speed is provided based on the field measurements in a macotidal waterway with a vessel-mounted acoustic Doppler sensor system. Its power relationship seems to be more reasonable because bed erosion rate generally has been formulated as a function of the bed shear stress.2