Despite availability of a large amount of observational data and modelling studies, the mechanisms maintaining the Turbidity Maximum in the Belgian-Dutch coastal zone around the port of Zeebrugge (Belgium) are insufficiently understood. In order to better understand the dynamics of this turbidity maximum we examine the role of baroclinic (salinity and sediment-induced) processes and local sediment sources on the formation and persistence of the turbidity maximum through two different numerical model approaches. One model approach allows erosion of the highly compacted muddy seabed, serving as a sediment source, in line with observations of bed level change over several decades. The other approach reduces the exchange between the bed and the water column, to mimic the formation of highly concentrated near-bed suspensions with concentrations of several g/l observed around the port of Zeebrugge. Both model approaches are calibrated to various sources of available data (in situ sediment concentration observations, satellite image, bed level changes, mud content and dredging data), which they reproduce comparably well. However, reducing the water-bed exchange strengthens sediment convergence in the turbidity maximum, whereas the sediment source leads to sediment export. With the available data, it is difficult to determine which of the approaches is more realistic. Apparently, the lack of knowledge on near-bed exchange processes introduces an important source of uncertainty which cannot be adequately addressed with currently available observations. This work therefore shows that more quantitative knowledge on water-bed exchange processes in turbid marine environments is needed. It is further hypothesized that the large-scale erosion of the muddy seabed following the extension the port of Zeebrugge in the early 1980's brought such a large amount of sediment in suspension (50–100 million ton) that sediment convergence was strengthened. This increasing sediment convergence introduces a positive feedback mechanism that maintains sediment in the Turbidity Maximum, or even strengthens it. The high sediment concentrations observed today may therefore be a long-term effect of port construction carried out decades earlier.

尽管有大量的观测数据和模型研究可用，但对于维持Zeebrugge港口（比利时）附近的Belegian-Dutch沿海地区保持最大浊度的机理仍知之甚少。为了更好地了解此最大浊度的动力学特性，我们通过两种不同的数值模型方法研究了斜压（盐度和沉积物诱发的）过程和局部沉积物源对最大浊度的形成和持久性的作用。一种模型方法允许侵蚀高度压实的泥泞海底，作为沉积物源，这与几十年来对床位变化的观察一致。另一种方法减少了床和水柱之间的交换，模拟Zeebrugge港口附近观察到的几克/升高浓度近床悬浮液的形成。两种模型方法均已根据各种可用数据源进行了校准（现场沉积物浓度观测，卫星图像，床位变化，泥浆含量和疏ed数据），它们的复制效果相当好。然而，减少水床交换会在最大浊度下增强沉积物的汇聚，而沉积物源会导致沉积物的出口。利用现有数据，很难确定哪种方法更现实。显然，缺乏关于近床交换过程的知识导致了不确定性的重要来源，而目前的观测结果无法充分解决这些不确定性。因此，这项工作表明，需要更多有关在浑浊的海洋环境中水床交换过程的定量知识。进一步的假设是，在1980年代初期Zeebrugge港口的扩建之后，泥泞海床的大规模侵蚀带来了如此大量的沉积物悬浮（50至1亿吨），从而使沉积物的收敛性得到了加强。不断增加的泥沙汇聚引入了一种积极的反馈机制，可将泥沙保持在最大浑浊度，甚至增强浑浊度。因此，今天观察到的高沉积物浓度可能是数十年前进行的港口建设的长期影响。进一步的假设是，在1980年代初期Zeebrugge港口的扩建之后，泥泞海床的大规模侵蚀带来了如此大量的沉积物悬浮（50至1亿吨），从而使沉积物的收敛性得到了加强。不断增加的泥沙汇聚引入了一种积极的反馈机制，可将泥沙保持在最大浑浊度，甚至增强浑浊度。因此，今天观察到的高沉积物浓度可能是数十年前进行的港口建设的长期影响。进一步的假设是，在1980年代初期Zeebrugge港口的扩建之后，泥泞海床的大规模侵蚀带来了如此大量的沉积物悬浮（50至1亿吨），从而使沉积物的收敛性得到了加强。不断增加的泥沙汇聚引入了一种积极的反馈机制，可将泥沙保持在最大浑浊度，甚至增强浑浊度。因此，今天观察到的高沉积物浓度可能是数十年前进行的港口建设的长期影响。甚至加强它。因此，今天观察到的高沉积物浓度可能是数十年前进行的港口建设的长期影响。甚至加强它。因此，今天观察到的高沉积物浓度可能是数十年前进行的港口建设的长期影响。