Fine settling particle transport in wetland flows: Effects of vegetation and settling velocity.

The article focuses on analytically modeling the transport of fine settling particles from a continuous release source in wetland flows, incorporating the effect of longitudinal diffusion. Using a phase-averaged mass transport equation and integral transform methods, the study derives a steady-state solution for the two-dimensional concentration distribution, validated against previous experimental and numerical results. Key findings include that the concentration field stabilizes downstream at a dimensionless distance of about x = 0.5, with lower vegetation factors (related to canopy density) yielding higher stable concentrations, and that increased settling velocity causes particles to concentrate more near the wetland bed. The analytical solution also effectively predicts suspended sediment concentration profiles, offering potential applications in wetland soil and water conservation and ecological restoration.