Hydrodynamic and Sediment Modelling within a Macro Tidal Estuary: Port Curtis Estuary, Australia

Abstract

An understanding of sediment transport processes and resultant concentration dynamics in estuaries is of great importance to engineering design awareness and the management of these environments. Predictive modelling approaches provide an opportunity to investigate and address potential system responses to nominated events, changes, or conditions of interest, often on high temporal and spatial resolution scales. In this study, a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model and wave model were validated and applied to generate forcing conditions for input into a sediment transport model for the period 7 May 2010-30 October 2010 within a macro tidal estuary, Port Curtis estuary (Australia). The hydrodynamic model was verified against surface and near-bottom current measurements. The model accurately reproduced the variations of surface and near-bottom currents at both a mid-estuary and upper-estuary location. Sediment transport model predictions were performed under varying meteorological conditions and tidal forcing over a 180-day period and were validated against turbidity data collected at six stations within Port Curtis estuary. The sediment transport model was able to predict both the magnitudes of the turbidity levels and the modulation induced by the neap and spring tides and wind-wave variations. The model-predicted (converted) turbidity levels compared favourably with the measured surface water turbidity levels at all six stations. The study results have useful practical application for Port Curtis estuary, including providing predictive capabilities to support the selection of locations for monitoring/compliance sites.

A Multifaceted Approach for Determining Sediment Provenance to Coastal Shipping Channels

“…For example, in the outer seaward Wild Cattle Channel the data indicate that the sediment has a marine rather than catchment derivation, with 7 Be activities equally low in dry and post wet conditions and less depleted δ 13 C. Wild Cattle Channel also had a similar REE composition to sediments from offshore of the Rodds Peninsula, a site chosen as indicative of longshore drift. Such a finding is supported by previous hydrodynamic and sediment movement modeling studies [4,5,[25][26][27], for a summary see [28]. For this location disposal of dredged material in a dredge disposal site, which is outside of the estuarine system, or the recharge of sandy beaches on Wild Cattle Island may be an appropriate option for managers.…”

Modeling the Transport and Fate of Sediments Released from Marine Construction Projects in the Coastal Waters of British Columbia, Canada

“…Evaluation of the environmental effects derived from the outputs from the modeling of the sediments released from marine construction activities are facilitated by comparisons with the SSC, and sediment deposition rates under natural conditions for the study area. The sediment regime of the natural environment can be represented through SSC and sediment deposition rates realized from observations or from sediment background models which use similar methods to those of the present study (e.g., Reference [25]).…”

Impact of Anthropogenic Facilities on the Morphodynamic Evolution of an Estuarine System: The Case of Oum Er-Rbia Estuary (Azemmour, Morocco)

“…According to many researches aiming at the digital modelization of estuaries and the prediction of their behavior, it has been demonstrated that their functioning is complex in most estuaries of the world due to the action of many factors controlling the equilibrium in these environmental systems [1][2][3][4][5]. Indeed, the factors controlling the morphodynamics of estuaries and deltas are variable, including natural factors such as sea level change, swell and tide actions, storm event, fluvial hydrology, etc., and…”

“…The morphodynamic change concerns the estuary outlet, the main channel, and the intertidal plains [19,20,28]. In addition, the morphodynamic change in the estuary affects the morphology of neighboring littoral areas and, consequently, causes the shoreline fluctuation [3,[29][30][31]. Numerous works have analyzed the morphologic evolution of coastal systems through multi-temporal photographs [30,[32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40].This study is an attempt to provide elements to aid in understanding the Oum Er-Rbia coastal system's behavior by analyzing the estuarine morphodynamic evolution and comparing it with the evolution of the hydraulic facilities installed in the catchment area, as well as the shoreline changes observed in the neighboring marine beaches.represents less than 3% of the main watercourse, but its situation downstream makes its important as a zone sensible to hydrodynamic changes in both upstream and littoral areas.…”

“…The morphodynamic change concerns the estuary outlet, the main channel, and the intertidal plains [19,20,28]. In addition, the morphodynamic change in the estuary affects the morphology of neighboring littoral areas and, consequently, causes the shoreline fluctuation [3,[29][30][31]. Numerous works have analyzed the morphologic evolution of coastal systems through multi-temporal photographs [30,[32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40].…”