Numerical modeling of intertidal mudflat profile evolution under waves and currents
Date
2022
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
The erosion and accretion profile changes in an intertidal mudflat were examined using available data and the numerical model CSHORE which was extended for a mixture of sand and mud. The semidiurnal migration of the still water shoreline and surf zone was solved numerically to predict the net cross-shore and longshore sediment transport rates influenced by the small cross-shore (undertow) and longshore currents induced by breaking waves of about 0.2 m. Approximating alongshore sediment gain or loss was observed to be critical to calibration. The alongshore sediment transport gradient utilized an equivalent alongshore length. ☐ The calibrated CSHORE reproduced the erosion and accretion profile changes during their respective intervals. The profile changed about 0.1 m for both intervals over a cross-shore distance of 950 m. ☐ The mudflat profile changes were equally affected by mud characteristics, semi-diurnal tide amplitude, and incident wave height, period, and direction. In addition, profile shape, alongshore water level gradient, and wind stress influenced longshore current and sediment transport. ☐ This study shows the importance of sediment transport in the surf zone which may have been excluded from previous numerical modeling.
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Keywords
Cohesive sediment, Intertidal mudflat, Mud transport, Numerical modeling, Sand transport