Sedimentation Dynamics of Tidal Inlets

Clifford R. Merz, Panagiotis D. Scarlatos

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Tidal inlets are very dynamic systems subject to continuous morphological changes under the action of tides, waves and transported sediments. Although flow and sediment dynamics are interactive, for simplicity, they can be decoupled. By accounting only for astronomic tidal effects, the flood cycle can be approximated by means of potential flow toward a sink while the ebb by the hydrodynamics of a plane jet. Using flow field simulation data, the amount and distribution of the moving sediment can be quantified by employing existing methods for estimation of bedload and suspended sediment transport. The applicability of the model is tested against field data from the Jupiter Inlet in S.E. Florida.

Original languageAmerican English
JournalNorth American Water and Environment Congress & Destructive Water
StatePublished - Jun 1 1996

Keywords

  • field tests
  • sediment
  • tides
  • inlets (waterway)
  • suspended sediment
  • flow simulation
  • sediment transport
  • wave action
  • Florida
  • United States

Disciplines

  • Life Sciences

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