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

D. Pritchard*, A. J. Hogg, W. Roberts

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

93 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

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.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1887-1895
Number of pages9
JournalContinental Shelf Research
Volume22
Issue number11-13
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jul 2002

Keywords

  • Estuaries
  • Intertidal mudflats
  • Intertidal sedimentation
  • Mathematical models
  • Morphodynamics

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