Biological controls on resuspension and the relationship between particle size and the Kolmogorov length scale in a shallow coastal sea

Measurements of suspended particle matter (SPM) and turbulence have been obtained over five tidal surveys during spring and summer 2010 at station L4 (50.25° N 04.22° W, depth 50m), in the Western English Channel. The relationship between turbulence intensity and bed stress is explored, with an in-line holographic imaging system evaluating the extent to which material is resuspended. Image analysis allows for the identification of SPM above a size threshold of 200μm, capturing particle variability across tidal cycles and the two seasons. Dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy, which exceeds 10−5Wkg−1, yields maximum values of bed stress of between 0.17 and 0.20Nm−2, frequently resulting in the resuspension of material from the bed. Resuspension is shown to promote aggregation of SPM into flocs, where the size of such particles is theoretically determined by the Kolmogorov microscale, lk. During the spring surveys, flocs of a size larger than lk were observed, though this was not repeated during summer. It is proposed that the presence of gelatinous, biological material in spring allows flocculated particles to exceed lk. This suggests that under specific circumstances, the limiting factor on the growth of flocculated SPM is not only turbulence, as previously thought, but the presence or absence of certain types of biological particle. •Relationship between suspended marine particles and turbulence examined in situ•Holographic imaging allows for the identification and sizing of particles.•Biological particles allow flocculated material to exceed the Kolmogorov microscale.•Particle resuspension variable across tidal cycles and season