Tidal Networks: form and Function

Rinaldo, Andrea; Belluco, Enrica; D’Alpaos, Andrea; Feola, Alessandra; Lanzoni, Stefano; Marani, Marco

doi:10.1029/ce059p0075

Cited by 13 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Although total length of the main channel network provides a measure of the conduit that conveys nutrient-rich waters into marsh interiors (Myrick and Leopold, 1963;Fagherazzi et al, 1999;Rinaldo et al, 1999b), this geomorphic parameter was also difficult to measure, particularly for large, complex marshes. In this study, the geomorphic system was composed of individual marshes arrayed along the length of the tidal Patuxent River, which is not directly analogous to the geomorphic organization of a large tidal system (e.g., Rinaldo et al, 2004). In this study, we found that total channel length was more closely related to tidal prism than marsh watershed area, which is the opposite of the result obtained by Marani et al (2003) for a large, complex tidal marsh.…”

Section: Geomorphic Data and Relationshipscontrasting

confidence: 65%

Use of geomorphic, hydrologic, and nitrogen mass balance data to model ecosystem nitrate retention in tidal freshwater wetlands

Seldomridge¹,

Prestegaard²

2012

Preprint

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Geomorphic characteristics have been used as scaling parameters to predict water and other fluxes in many systems. In this study, we combined geomorphic analysis with in-situ mass balance studies of nitrate retention (NR) to evaluate which geomorphic scaling parameters best predicted NR in a tidal freshwater wetland ecosystem. Geomorphic characteristics were measured for 267 individual marshes that constitute the freshwater tidal wetland ecosystem of the Patuxent River, Maryland. Nitrate retention was determined from mass balance measurements conducted at the inlets of marshes of varying size (671, 5705, and 536 873 m<sup>2</sup>) over a period of several years. Mass balance measurements indicate that NR is proportional to total water flux over the tidal cycle. Relationships between estimated tidal prism (total water volume) for spring tides and various geomorphic parameters (marsh area, total channel length, and inlet width) were defined and compared to field data. From these data, NR equations were determined for each geomorphic parameter, and used to estimate NR for all marshes in the ecosystem for a reference spring (high) tide. The resulting ecosystem NR estimates were evaluated for: (a) accuracy and completeness of geomorphic data, (b) relationship between the geomorphic parameters and hydrologic flux, and (c) the ability to adapt the geomorphic parameter to varying tidal conditions. This analysis indicated that inlet width data were the most complete and provided the best estimate of ecosystem nitrate retention. Predictions based on marsh area were significantly lower than the inlet width-based predictions. Cumulative probability distributions of nitrate retention indicate that the largest 3–4 % of the marshes retained half of the total nitrate for the ecosystem

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Section: Geomorphic Data and Relationshipscontrasting

confidence: 65%

Use of geomorphic, hydrologic, and nitrogen mass balance data to model ecosystem nitrate retention in tidal freshwater wetlands

Seldomridge¹,

Prestegaard²

2012

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In this study, the geomorphic system was composed of individual marshes arrayed along the length of the tidal Patuxent River, which is not directly analogous to the geomorphic organization of a large tidal system (e.g., Rinaldo et al, 2004). In this study, we found that total channel length was more closely related to tidal prism than marsh watershed area, which is the opposite of the result obtained by Marani et al (2003) for a large, complex tidal marsh.…”

Section: Geomorphic Data and Relationshipscontrasting

confidence: 54%

“…Tidal freshwater wetlands (TFWs) often contain selfformed channel networks that govern water and solute fluxes into these systems (Myrick and Leopold, 1963;Rinaldo et al, 2004). Tidal channel networks are similar to fluvial networks; geomorphic relationships among stream order, length, basin area, and inlet width have been defined for both fluvial (Horton, 1945;Strahler, 1952;Shreve, 1967) and tidal channel networks (Rinaldo et al, 1999b;Marani et al, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of geomorphic, hydrologic, and nitrogen mass balance data to model ecosystem nitrate retention in tidal freshwater wetlands

Seldomridge

Prestegaard

2012

Biogeosciences

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Abstract. Geomorphic characteristics have been used as scaling parameters to predict water and other fluxes in many systems. In this study, we combined geomorphic analysis with in-situ mass balance studies of nitrate retention (NR) to evaluate which geomorphic scaling parameters best predicted NR in a tidal freshwater wetland ecosystem. Geomorphic characteristics were measured for 267 individual marshes that constitute the freshwater tidal wetland ecosystem of the Patuxent River, Maryland. Nitrate retention was determined from mass balance measurements conducted at the inlets of marshes of varying size (671, 5705, and 536 873 m 2 ) over a period of several years. Mass balance measurements indicate that NR is proportional to total water flux over the tidal cycle. Relationships between estimated tidal prism (calculated water volume) for spring tides and various geomorphic parameters (marsh area, total channel length, and inlet width) were defined using measurements from air photos and compared to field data. From these data, NR equations were determined for each geomorphic parameter, and used to estimate NR for all marshes in the ecosystem for a reference spring (high) tide. The resulting ecosystem NR estimates were evaluated for (a) accuracy and completeness of geomorphic data, (b) relationship between the geomorphic parameters and hydrologic flux, and (c) the ability to adapt the geomorphic parameter to varying tidal conditions. This analysis indicated that inlet width data were the most complete and provided the best estimate of ecosystem nitrate retention. Predictions based on marsh area were significantly lower than the inlet width-based predictions. Cumulative probability distributions of nitrate retention indicate that the largest 3-4 % of the marshes retained half of the total nitrate for the ecosystem.

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“…The morphology of an estuary is primarily controlled by river flow, tides, waves, and sediment supply (e.g., de Swart & Zimmerman, ). Tide‐dominated estuaries generally show a funnel‐shaped geometry (Dronkers, ; Fagherazzi & Furbish, ; Myrick & Leopold, ; Rinaldo et al, ; Wright et al, ). This landward reduction of the cross‐sectional area is a consequence of the reduction of the tidal flux (Myrick & Leopold, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Density‐Driven Flows on the Long‐Term Morphodynamic Evolution of Funnel‐Shaped Estuaries

et al. 2018

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Subtidal flows driven by density gradients affect the tide‐averaged sediment transport in estuaries and, therefore, can influence their long‐term morphodynamic evolution. The three‐dimensional Coupled Ocean‐Atmosphere‐Wave‐Sediment Transport modeling system is applied to numerically analyze the effects of baroclinicity and Earth's rotation on the long‐term morphodynamic evolution of idealized funnel‐shaped estuaries. The morphodynamic evolution in all the analyzed cases reproduced structures identified in many tide‐dominated estuaries: a meandering region in the fluvial‐tidal transition zone, a tidal maximum area close to the head, and a turbidity maxima region in the brackish zone. As the morphology of the estuaries evolved, the tidal propagation (including its asymmetry), the salinity gradient, and the strength of subtidal flows changed, which reflects the strong bathymetric control of these systems. The comparison with barotropic simulations showed that the three‐dimensional structure of the flow (induced by density gradients) has leading order effects on the morphodynamic evolution. Density gradient‐driven subtidal flows (1) promote near‐bed flood dominance and, consequently, the import of sediment into the estuary, (2) accelerate the morphodynamic evolution of the upper/middle estuary, (3) promote a more concave shape of the upper estuary and reduce the ebb‐tidal delta volume, and (4) produce an asymmetric bathymetry and inhibit the formation of alternate bars that would form under barotropic conditions. This latter effect is the consequence of the combined effect of Earth's rotation and baroclinicity.

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Tidal Networks: form and Function

Cited by 13 publications

References 33 publications

Use of geomorphic, hydrologic, and nitrogen mass balance data to model ecosystem nitrate retention in tidal freshwater wetlands

Use of geomorphic, hydrologic, and nitrogen mass balance data to model ecosystem nitrate retention in tidal freshwater wetlands

Use of geomorphic, hydrologic, and nitrogen mass balance data to model ecosystem nitrate retention in tidal freshwater wetlands

Effects of Density‐Driven Flows on the Long‐Term Morphodynamic Evolution of Funnel‐Shaped Estuaries

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