Winds of opportunity: The effects of wind on intertidal flat accretion

Intertidal ecosystems are threatened by sea level rise and anthropogenic pressures. Understanding the processes controlling the morphodynamic developments of tidal flats is crucial for sustainable management of these systems. Analysis of three extensive fieldwork campaigns carried out on two adjacent mudflats fringing the Dutch Western Wadden...

The impact of wind on flow and sediment transport over intertidal flats

Sediment transport over intertidal flats is driven by a combination of waves, tides, and wind-driven flow. In this study we aimed at identifying and quantifying the interactions between these processes. A five week long dataset consisting of flow velocities, waves, water depths, suspended sediment concentrations, and bed level changes was...

SPM response to tide and river flow in the hyper-turbid Ems River

In this paper, we analyse the behaviour of fine sediments in the hyper-turbid Lower Ems River, with focus on the river’s upper reaches, a stretch of about 25 km up-estuary of Terborg. Our analysis is based on long records of suspended particulate matter (SPM) from optical backscatter (OBS) measurements close to the bed at seven stations along...

The Importance of Wind-induced Sediment Fluxes on Tidal Flats

Port maintenance and nature preservation are two often conflicting aspects of coastal management. Within a Pilot Project in the Western Wadden Sea (the Netherlands - see Figure1a) we test a win-win solution that could reduce harbour siltation while simultaneously stimulate saltmarsh development.<br/>For this purpose, fine material, dredged in...

An efficient consolidation model for morphodynamic simulations in low SPM-environments

This paper presents a fast consolidation model suitable for long-term morphodynamic simulations. This model is applicable for muddy systems where sedimentation rates are smaller than consolidation rates, assuming quasi-equilibrium of the consolidating bed. It compares to the consolidation model developed by Sanford (2008). However, in that model...

Regime shifts in a D3D schematized Scheldt model: recent progress

The Ems and Loire evolved into hyper-turbid estuaries in the course of the 20th<br/>century. Winterwerp et al. (2013 a, b) argued that narrowing and deepening of these<br/>rivers induced a regime shift towards these hyper-turbid conditions. This regime<br/>shift was presumed to be driven by a positive feed-back between tidal<br/>amplification,...