Morphological modelling of intertidal mudflats: the role of cross-shore tidal currents

We describe a mathematical model of the sediment transport resulting from cross-shore tidal currents on an intertidal mudflat. The model is integrated numerically to determine the long-term (“equilibrium”) behaviour of the morphodynamic system, and to investigate how the morphology of the flats depe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Continental shelf research 2002-07, Vol.22 (11-13), p.1887-1895
Main Authors: Pritchard, D., Hogg, A.J., Roberts, W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Estuaries
Intertidal mudflats
Intertidal sedimentation
Mathematical models
Morphodynamics
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Summary:We describe a mathematical model of the sediment transport resulting from cross-shore tidal currents on an intertidal mudflat. The model is integrated numerically to determine the long-term (“equilibrium”) behaviour of the morphodynamic system, and to investigate how the morphology of the flats depends on tidal range and sediment supply. Under a sinusoidal tide, the equilibrium flat is approximately linear below mean sea level (MSL) and convex above MSL, and advances seawards over long timescales. The cross-shore width of the flat is independent of tidal range, and increases with increasing sediment supply. Tidal asymmetry (flood- or ebb-dominance) leads to a steeper flat, and ebb-dominance can cause the flat to retreat landwards in the long term. Under a spring–neap tidal cycle, the shape of the equilibrium profile is very similar to that for a fixed tidal range, but the rate of accretion is significantly reduced.
ISSN:0278-4343
1873-6955
DOI:10.1016/S0278-4343(02)00044-4