Sediment samples from the weser estuary - lab generated time dependend density profiles and lutocline evolution

As part of the FAUST project, both field and laboratory investigations were conducted on the sediment exchange behavior of cohesive sediments in the Weser estuary. A particular focus of the work was the examination of vertical exchange processes at the interface between the water column and highly concentrated suspensions. Since the transitions between the sub-processes of sediment exchange are partially fluid or directly connected, investigations were carried out not only on the predominant aspects of settling and erosion behavior but also on consolidation behavior and rheology of cohesive sediments. The methodology to generate the density profiles is described in the corresponding publication, where the results were published and discussed first hand (https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2022.916056). In general, an Anton Paar DMA Standard Densimeter has been used to measure the suspensions densities. For very high (approx. >1300 kg/m³) densities a suspension balance has been used as alternative. Lutocline evolution curves are generated by digitization of photographic observations of the lutoclines evolution over time. Information on the composition (approximate fractions of sand, silt and clay) of the sediments used is also given in https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2022.916056. Data abbreviations are location based: BB - Blexer Bogen, NH - Nordenham, H - Harbour, S - Ship, L - Laboratory, MW - Measurementtrip Weser; Numbers are sample and field trip specific. Natural profiles: e.g. MW-II, NH-13H: Sample number 3 from the second field trip (first 0, second 1,...) on the Weser (MW-II) collected at Position Nordenham. Density profile generated immediately after returning in the harbour (H). Lab generated development of density-depth-profiles: e.g. BB-05 rho_0 = 1065 kg/m³: Sample number 5 from the first field trip on the Weser collected at Position Blexer Bogen having an initially homogeneous density profile of rho_0 = 1065 kg/m³