Estuaries and Tidal Inlets

FitzGerald, Duncan M.; Georgiou, Ioannis Y.; Miner, Michael D.

doi:10.1002/9781119117261.ch12

Cited by 18 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Where sediments are abundant, it is recognized that a sort of competition between wave‐driven alongshore sediment transport (LST) and estuarine (fresh and saltwater) flows controls the existence of spits as it does for inlets (Hayes, ; Nichols and Allen, ; FitzGerald et al ., ). From the spit perspective, LST generally plays a constructive role while flows favour inlets (Kraus, ; Kraus and Seabergh, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Imprints of wave climate and mean sea level variations in the dynamics of a coastal spit over the last 250 years: Cap Ferret, SW France

Nahon

Idier

Sénéchal

et al. 2019

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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In coastal areas, sea level rise (SLR) and changing wave climates are expected to be the main oceanic drivers of shoreline adjustments. These drivers have been shown to vary on a wide spectrum of spatial and temporal scales. Nonetheless, a general rule about how this variability impacts global shorelines remains to be articulated. Here, we discuss the impacts of wave climate changes and SLR on the evolution of a barrier spit-inlet system over the last 250 years. The distal end of the Cap Ferret barrier spit, SW France, has undergone large-scale oscillations that were well correlated with variations of the decadal average of the winter North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index. The local wave climate hindcast supports that increased alongshore wave energy fluxes associated with the positive phase of the NAO were responsible for the updrift retreat of the spit. By opposition, the spit has elongated downdrift when waves were less energetic and more shore normal, as during the negative phase of the NAO. In addition, lower rates of SLR appeared to be necessary for the spit to develop, as higher rates of SLR very likely forced the adjacent inlet to enlarge, at the expense of the spit. These results should help to predict and detect coastal adjustments driven by climate change and by climate variability.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Imprints of wave climate and mean sea level variations in the dynamics of a coastal spit over the last 250 years: Cap Ferret, SW France

Nahon

Idier

Sénéchal

et al. 2019

Earth Surf Processes Landf

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Such multiple pressures would inevitably lead to depleting most coastal resources while damaging its ecosystems as well. On the other hand, projected climate-change driven variations in mean sea level, wave conditions, intensity and frequency of storm surges, and river flow will affect the coastal zone in many ways (Brown et al, 2014;FitzGerald et al, 2008FitzGerald et al, , 2014Ranasinghe, 2016;Ranasinghe and Stive, 2009;Spencer et al, 2016;Syvitski et al, 2009;Syvitski and Kettner, 2008;Wong et al, 2014;Woodruff et al, 2013;Zhang et al, 2004). Rising sea level is likely to inundate many of the low elevated coastal areas by the end of this century (Ranasinghe, 2016).…”

Section: Background and Motivationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sandy coasts are considered to be one of the most complex coastal systems with respect to its geomorphological behaviour because they are continually varying due to the influences of both natural and anthropogenic drivers (Anthony et al, 2015;Besset et al, 2019;Ranasinghe, 2016;Stive, 2004;Toimil et al, 2017). The majority of these sandy coasts is interrupted by inlets (Aubrey and Weishar, 1988;Davis-Jr. and Fitzgerald, 2003;Duong et al, 2016;FitzGerald et al, 2015;McSweeney et al, 2017;Woodroffe, 2003). The dynamic nature of these inlet-interrupted coasts is caused by both oceanic and terrestrial processes.…”

Section: Background and Motivationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, the deposition and redistribution part of sediment pathways (described above) would vary with the type of inlet-interrupted coast. For inlet-interrupted coasts along the mainland, sediment deposition and redistribution processes are closely linked with the type of estuary they are attached with (FitzGerald et al, 2014;Ranasinghe et al, 2013). One commonly-used classification of estuaries is based on its geomorphology, in which they are categorized as bar-built, fjord, tectonic, and coastal plain estuaries (FitzGerald et al, 2014).…”

Section: Types Of Inlet-interrupted Coastsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The back-barrier salt marshes in mixed energy environments are demarcated by a very mild sloped topography that extends over a large area. The tidal prism may increase significantly within this unique hypsometry if the supratidal marsh surfaces are flooded or eroded due to rising sea level (FitzGerald et al, 2014). Tidal prism may also increase in the back-barrier if the marshlands are converted into open water bodies under future sea level.…”

Section: Types Of Inlet-interrupted Coastsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

A holistic modelling approach to simulate catchment-estuary-coastal system behaviour at macro-time scales

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Bamunawala²

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Overwash‐dominated stratigraphy of barriers with intermittent inlets

Green

Pillay

Cooper³

et al. 2019

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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The morphodynamics and structure of barriers with persistent tidal inlets have been well studied. In contrast the stratigraphy and functioning of barrier systems with ephemeral inlets is poorly understood. This article examines the barrier-inlet systems of two intermittently closed open lagoons or temporarily open closed estuaries on the east coast of South Africa. Multiple geophysical surveys using ground-penetrating radar (GPR) were correlated with exposed sections of the barrier where inlet formation revealed the internal stratigraphy. Stratigraphic observations were placed in the context of the contemporary wave dynamics and mesoscale geomorphic evolution. The integrated databases reveal an absence of migrating channel features. Instead the stratigraphy is dominated by landward dipping sheets of alternating high-and low-amplitude reflectors. These correlate with gravel, shell debris and heavy mineral-lined beds formed by overwash processes. Where ephemeral inlet structures are preserved in the stratigraphy, their fills comprise aggrading, high-amplitude reflectors, linked to washover infilling of the inlet mouth. Multiple small channels in the more distal portions of the barrier in georadar stratigraphy are related to channelized washover flow.These barriers often breach during high swell and are subsequently sealed during fairweather wave conditions. Time series analysis of waves and satellite imagery shows a link between storms from the south and breach events. This is consistent with the truncations in subsurface images and inferred barrier lowering by overwash channelling. These barriers experience quasi-stable oscillations in their landward and seaward shore position, punctuated by periods of barrier rollover associated with the most intense storms. As overwash is responsible in part for both the constructive and destructive phases of the barrier, these barriers have low preservation potential. Persistent rollover driven by overwashing will terminate once accommodation space is eliminated and the barriers are eroded by storm activity.

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Estuaries and Tidal Inlets

Cited by 18 publications

References 36 publications

Imprints of wave climate and mean sea level variations in the dynamics of a coastal spit over the last 250 years: Cap Ferret, SW France

Imprints of wave climate and mean sea level variations in the dynamics of a coastal spit over the last 250 years: Cap Ferret, SW France

A holistic modelling approach to simulate catchment-estuary-coastal system behaviour at macro-time scales

Overwash‐dominated stratigraphy of barriers with intermittent inlets

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