Discovery and implications of catenary-bead subaqueous dunes

Measurements of topography at the segment of bifurcation between the South Channel and North Channel in the Yangtze Estuary were conducted, and a new type of subaqueous dune was discovered. This structure, newly defined as a catenary-bead dune, consists of a catenary dune and its associated elliptical pit bedform. Based on this finding, the nomenclature of “morphology of dune associated with accompanying bedform” is first proposed. The measured data indicate a mean height and wavelength of 1.29 m and 31.89 m, respectively; wavelength/height ratio (L/H) of 14 to 56; and elliptical pits of mean and maximum depth 0.98 m and 1.98 m, respectively. Flow information was obtained using an Acoustic Doppler Current Profile (ADCP), and the bed material components were gathered with a bottom sampler. The results show mean flood and ebb velocities of 0.27 and 0.78 m s^-1, respectively, with shorter duration of flood tide than ebb tide. The silt, very fine sand, and fine sand fractions were within the ranges 21.6–23.4%, 28.2–32.2%, and 39.7–41.6%, respectively, revealing complex bed material composition. Water depth at the study site varies from 13 to 17 m. This finding will enrich the study of dunes and provide important data for geomorphological research. Moreover, the results are significant for engineering applications to estuaries.