Impacts of tidal flat reclamation on suspended sediment dynamics in the tidal-dominated Wenzhou Coast, China

Abstract

Reclamation of tidal flats is one of the engineering measures of expanding land area and developing the economy in coastal areas; however, this process disturbs the natural processes of the tidal flat system. Taking the flood-tidal dominant Oufei tidal flat at the Wenzhou coast as a study area, the influences of tidal flat reclamation on tidal and suspended sediment dynamics were comprehensively investigated via numerical modeling. Before the reclamation, the Eulerian residual current flows alongshore and the residual sediment transport on-shore in the tidal flat area. The reclamation reduces the tidal flat area, shifting the M4 co-phase line toward the coast and squeezing the flood-dominated area. Consequently, the tidal current is weakened and the suspended sediment concentration (SSC) is reduced, but the residual sediment transport change insignificantly. The residual sediment transport in the Feiyunjiang Estuary is controlled by the tidal pumping effect. The upper estuary shows a net sediment transport landward, while a seaward transport is observed in the lower estuary, which further splits into two circulation outside the estuary. The south Oufei dike construction interferes the northern sediment circulation, resulting in the alteration of local SSC and enhancing landward sediment transport inside the estuary. The methodology and understandings arising from this study could be a good reference for the analysis of suspended sediment transport under tidal flat reclamation effects at other sites.

Sustainable Use of Geomorphological Forms in Tourism, the Case of Half Moon Bay, Eastern Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

“…The inherent danger of backfilling operations and land expansion at the expense of sea water appears in the destruction of geomorphological phenomena in the area and the creation of a new industrial forms, which harms the components of the natural environment, especially distinction of some biotic species. A recent study by Zhang et al (2023) have indicated that tidal flat reclamation has significant influences on tidal and suspended sediment dynamics based on numerical modeling.…”

Dynamic Evolution of Aquaculture along the Bohai Sea Coastline and Implications for Eco-Coastal Vegetation Restoration Based on Remote Sensing

“…Remote sensing technology has been widely applied to coastal monitoring due to its ability to perform large-scale synchronous observations [ 19 ] and low monitoring costs [ 20 , 21 , 22 ]. For example, it can be used to monitor the coastline [ 23 , 24 ], tidal flats [ 25 , 26 ], and nearshore water bodies [ 27 , 28 , 29 ]. However, there has been less attention paid to monitoring aquaculture ponds, which have been not the focus of researchers, but rather an indirect target of their studies.…”

Combined Application of Desulfurization Gypsum and Biochar for Improving Saline-Alkali Soils: A Strategy to Improve Newly Reclaimed Cropland in Coastal Mudflats

“…Therefore, the retention of salt brought by seawater leads to a high salinity in the soil, low nutrient content, and poor physical structure, all of which hinder plant growth [8]. Although soils reclaimed from coastal mudflats can be completely desalinated through natural leaching and plant succession, the entire process is time consuming [9]. Coastal mudflats can be improved through physical improvement, hydraulic improvement, biological improvement, and chemical improvement.…”