An Investigation into Processes Influencing the Morphodynamics of an Intertidal Mudflat, the Dollard Estuary, The Netherlands: I. Hydrodynamics and Suspended Sediment

Dyer, K.R.; Christie, M.C.; Feates, N.; Fennessy, M. J.; Pejrup, Morten; Lee, W. van der

doi:10.1006/ecss.1999.0596

Cited by 104 publications

(78 citation statements)

References 10 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…1f). The estuary has a tidal prism of 1 × 10 9 m 3 and maximum channel velocities are on the order of 1 m s −1 (Dyer et al, 2000). Freshwater input comes from the Ems River with an average discharge of 80 m 3 s −1 .…”

Section: Spatial Pattern Of Mudflats In Estuariesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of mud supply on large-scale estuary morphology and development over centuries to millennia

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. Alluvial river estuaries consist largely of sand but are typically flanked by mudflats and salt marshes. The analogy with meandering rivers that are kept narrower than braided rivers by cohesive floodplain formation raises the question of how large-scale estuarine morphology and the late Holocene development of estuaries are affected by cohesive sediment. In this study we combine sand and mud transport processes and study their interaction effects on morphologically modelled estuaries on centennial to millennial timescales. The numerical modelling package Delft3D was applied in 2-DH starting from an idealised convergent estuary. The mixed sediment was modelled with an active layer and storage module with fluxes predicted by the Partheniades-Krone relations for mud and Engelund-Hansen for sand. The model was subjected to a range of idealised boundary conditions of tidal range, river discharge, waves and mud input. The model results show that mud is predominantly stored in mudflats on the side of the estuary. Marine mud supply only influences the mouth of the estuary, whereas fluvial mud is distributed along the whole estuary. Coastal waves stir up mud and remove the tendency to form muddy coastlines and the formation of mudflats in the downstream part of the estuary. Widening continues in estuaries with only sand, while mud supply leads to a narrower constant width and reduced channel and bar dynamics. This self-confinement eventually leads to a dynamic equilibrium in which lateral channel migration and mudflat expansion are balanced on average. However, for higher mud concentrations, higher discharge and low tidal amplitude, the estuary narrows and fills to become a tidal delta.

show abstract

Section: Spatial Pattern Of Mudflats In Estuariesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of mud supply on large-scale estuary morphology and development over centuries to millennia

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…However, sediment fluxes among mudflat, marsh, and channel regions are coupled and depend on the hydrodynamic forcing [Yang et al, 2003]. Although field studies have documented sediment transport processes on mudflats [Christie et al, 1999;Dyer et al, 2000;Le Hir et al, 2000], and in marshes [Leonard et al, 1995a;Leonard et al, 1995b;Christiansen et al, 2000], observations remain limited because of logistical challenges with soft substrate, small and variable water depth, intermittent erosion events, and spatial variability between channels and shoals [Dyer et al, 2000].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Flood dominant velocities and settling around high water contribute to suspended sediment concentration maxima during flood tides for a range of shallow tidal systems: shallow estuaries [Chant and Stoner, 1998;Fettweis et al, 1998], mudflats [Le Hir et al, 2000;Christie et al, 1999], and marshes [Lawrence et al, 2004]. On ebb dominant mudflats, the settling and scour lag effect can generate greater sediment concentrations during floods than ebbs [Dyer et al, 2000].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Consequently, the timing of winds with respect to ebb/flood and spring/neap cycles impacts net transport [Leonard et al, 1995b;Le Hir et al, 2000;Yang et al, 2003]. Generally, storms (especially around high water) reverse calm weather onshore transport of sediment and drive net export of sediment from mudflats [Wells and Park, 1992;Shi and Chen, 1996;Christie et al, 1999;Dyer et al, 2000;Le Hir et al, 2000;Janssen-Stelder, 2000;Yang et al, 2003]. While erosive response to storms occurs over time scales of days, recovery to pre-storm elevations can take weeks to months [Yang et al, 2003].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Tidal and meteorological forcing of sediment transport in tributary mudflat channels

Ralston

Stacey

2007

Continental Shelf Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Field observations of flow and sediment transport in a tributary channel through intertidal mudflats indicate that suspended sediment was closely linked to advection and dispersion of a tidal salinity front. During calm weather when tidal forcing was dominant, high concentrations of suspended sediment advected up the mudflat channel in the narrow region between salty water from San Francisco Bay and much fresher runoff from the small local watershed. Salinity and suspended sediment dispersed at similar rates through each tidal inundation, such that during receding ebbs the sediment pulse had spread spatially and maximum concentrations had decreased. Net sediment transport was moderately onshore during the calm weather, as asymmetries in stratification due to tidal straining of the salinity front enhanced deposition, particularly during weaker neap tidal forcing. Sediment transport by tidal forcing was periodically altered by winter storms. During storms, strong winds from the south generated wind waves and temporarily increased suspended sediment concentrations. Increased discharge down the tributary channels due to precipitation had more lasting impact on sediment transport, supplying both buoyancy and fine sediment to the system. Net sediment transport depended on the balance between calm weather tidal forcing and perturbations by episodic storms. Net transport in the tributary channel was generally off-shore during storms and during calm weather spring tides, and on-shore during calm weather neap tides.Keywords sediment transport; intertidal sedimentation; salinity gradients; tidal inlets; topographic effects; San Francisco Bay; California; USA Intertidal sediment transportSediment transport is closely linked to both the morphology and ecology of mudflats and marshes. The balance between erosion and deposition controls local bed elevation, and bed

show abstract

“…The topography of a tidal flat is easily changed by long-term gradual accretion and short-term episodic erosion associated with strong tidal currents, wave action, and wind forcing (Mazda et al, 1990;Dyer et al, 2000;Uchiyama, 2001). These morphological alterations would significantly affect benthic ecosystems not only by the direct effects of sedimentation (Preen et al, 1995), but also by altering the quantity and quality of SPM supplied in the overlying water column.…”

Section: Expected Responses Of Benthic Organisms To the Regular Pattementioning

confidence: 99%

Physical and topographic factors affecting suspended particulate matter composition in a shallow tropical estuary

Umezawa

Komatsu

Yamamuro

et al. 2009

Marine Environmental Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

To better understand topography-dependent characteristics of suspended particulate matter (SPM) in a tropical shallow estuary during dry season, the physical factors causing an increase of SPM and the sources of SPM were investigated at the western coast of Thailand. Single and multiple regression analyses using physical parameters as independent variables indicated that periodic tidal current-driven resuspension, episodic wind-driven resuspension, and river-borne inputs were the most important factors controlling SPM increases in areas surrounded by sand bars, areas directly facing the ocean, and areas close to the river mouth , respectively. The assessment of the origin of increased SPM over the background levels estimated from the chemical signatures (δ 13 C and C/N ratio) at all investigated location and for each event responsible for an increase in SPM confirmed the results of the multiple regression analyses. The results suggested that specific characteristics of SPM at each location were highly contributed by sedimentary materials and could be rather consistent through the season under similar weather conditions.

show abstract

An Investigation into Processes Influencing the Morphodynamics of an Intertidal Mudflat, the Dollard Estuary, The Netherlands: I. Hydrodynamics and Suspended Sediment

Cited by 104 publications

References 10 publications

Effects of mud supply on large-scale estuary morphology and development over centuries to millennia

Effects of mud supply on large-scale estuary morphology and development over centuries to millennia

Tidal and meteorological forcing of sediment transport in tributary mudflat channels

Physical and topographic factors affecting suspended particulate matter composition in a shallow tropical estuary

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About