Observed and predicted vertical suspended sediment concentration profiles and bedforms in oscillatory-only flow

Measurements of hydrodynamic conditions and vertical suspended sediment con centration profiles, C-profiles, have been obtained above rippled sandy bed s in a large wave flume. Measured values of wave height and period, water d epth and sediment properties are used in well-known formulae to predict sed iment dynamics and bed shear stresses due to waves. These data are then use d in an existing convective model and a new model to predict C-profiles. Me asured C-profiles and C-profiles predicted by the new model are shown to ag ree well for a range of grain sizes and wave conditions. Grain-scale bed ro ughness, defined using data from the model, is found to vary with the wave mobility number. Values for the wave mixing coefficient derived using the n ew model are tested and are found to agree well with published values and w ith theory.