Stability analysis of a two-inlet bay system

The stability analysis for a double-inlet bay system is applied to an inlet system resembling Big Marco Pass and Capri Pass on the lower west coast of Florida. Since the opening of Capri Pass in 1967, the length of Big Marco Pass has increased from 2000 m in 1967 to 3000 m in 1988 and the cross-sectional area has decreased from 1200 m² in 1967 to 1000 m² in 1988. Since 1967, the cross-sectional area of Capri Pass has steadily increased and in 1988 was 700 m². Tides off the inlets are of the mixed type with a diurnal range of 1 m. The gross littoral transport rate in the vicinity of the inlets is estimated at 150,000 m³ yr⁻¹.For each inlet the maximum tidal velocities are calculated as a function of the gorge cross-sectional areas using a lumped-parameter model to describe the hydrodynamics of the flow. In the model it is assumed that the bay level fluctuates uniformly and the bay surface area remains constant. The velocities are used to calculate the tidal maximum of the bottom shear stress in each inlet as a function of the cross-sectional areas of the two inlets (=closure surface). Values of the equilibrium shear stress are derived from an empirical relationship between cross-sectional area and tidal prism for stable inlets along the west coast of Florida. Closure surfaces and equilibrium stress values are calculated for values of friction factors ranging from F=4×10⁻³ to F=6×10⁻³. Using the closure surfaces and equilibrium stress values, the equilibrium flow curve for each inlet is determined. The equilibrium flow curve represents the locus of the combination of cross-sectional areas for which the actual bottom shear stress in the inlet equals the equilibrium shear stress.Based on the equilibrium flow curves and the known values of the cross-sectional areas of the two inlets in 1988, it is expected that, ultimately, Big Marco Pass will close and Capri Pass will remain as the sole inlet with a cross-sectional area of 1250 m² and a maximum tidal velocity pertaining to a diurnal tide of 0.85 m s⁻¹.     

Seagrass (Zostera muelleri) patch size and spatial location influence infaunal macroinvertebrate assemblages

Seagrass landscapes are coastal environments that support diverse and abundant faunal communities. This study investigated infaunal assemblage patterns in fragmented and continuous Zostera muelleri habitat in southeastern New Zealand. Intertidal macroinvertebrate assemblages were examined in fragmented seagrass habitat (containing discrete patches varying in size from 1 to 200 m²) and continuous meadows (>1000 m²), in a small and a large tidal inlet. Community indices differed between seagrass habitat types and the total number of taxa was significantly lower at fragmented seagrass sites in one of the inlets. The total number of individuals and diversity were significantly different between fragmented and continuous seagrass habitat in both inlets, but diversity values showed inconsistent patterns between inlets. Multivariate analysis confirmed that different seagrass habitat types support distinct macrofaunal assemblages in each inlet and position on the shore was identified as the single most important variable explaining dissimilarities in assemblage compositions. These findings confirm the influence of seagrass habitat size on infaunal assemblages and also highlight the importance of spatial position of seagrass habitat in intertidal areas.     

A morphodynamic model to simulate the seasonal closure of tidal inlets

Seasonally open tidal inlets usually occur in microtidal, wave-dominated coastal environments where strong seasonal variations of streamflow and wave climate are experienced. These inlets are closed to the ocean for a number of months every year due to the formation of sand bars across their entrances. The annual closure of these inlets inhibits ocean access for boats and could also cause deterioration of water quality in the estuary/lagoon connected to the inlet. As these estuaries/lagoons are commonly used as harbours or recreational facilities there is increased interest in keeping the inlets permanently open. A process-based numerical model capable of simulating inlet closure is invaluable in terms of identifying the natural processes governing inlet closure. As a further step, this type of model could also be used to determine the effect of any proposed engineering solutions to keep the inlet open on the adjacent beaches. A morphodynamic model capable of simulating the seasonal closure of inlets, which includes both longshore (LST) and cross-shore transport (CST) processes, was developed in this study. Application of the model to two idealised scenarios indicated that cross-shore processes govern inlet behaviour when LST rates were low. The Dean's criterion [Dean, R.G., 1973. Heuristic models of sand transport in the surf zone. Proc. Conf. on Eng. Dynamics in the Surf Zone, Sydney, pp. 208–214.] for on–offshore transport was employed to show that, for small offshore wave incidence angles, onshore transport aided inlet closure when the offshore wave steepness (H_o/L_o) was less than the critical wave steepness (H_o/L_o)_crit, while offshore transport helped to keep the inlet open when (H_o/L_o) was greater than (H_o/L_o)_crit. LST was found to be the dominant process leading to inlet closure when (H_o/L_o) was much larger than (H_o/L_o)_crit or when the offshore wave incidence angle was large.     

The “Furkert‐Heath” relationship for tidal inlet stability reviewed

The “Furkert‐Heath” relationship is a commonly used method of assessing the stability of New Zealand inlets. However, the equation published by Heath in 1975 was incorrectly calculated which has led to misinterpretation of data in some cases. Recalculation resulted in a new linear relation, presented here, between the inlet gorge cross‐sectional area A and tidal prism O. Misuses of the “Furkert‐Heath” equation are identified including: extrapolating predictions beyond the data field; neglecting errors inherent in measurement of A and O; method of characterising sedimentation regime; neglecting confidence limits of data; using A‐O relationships as the sole indicator of inlet stability; and applying the relationship to inlets other than barrier‐enclosed inlets.     

潮汐汊道及其沙滩的安全风险和动力机制

为提高海水浴场的安全性,避免发生溺水事故,文章以潮汐汊道及其沙滩的动力地貌结构和发育演变为基础,研究青岛市灵山湾城市阳台海水浴场沙滩的安全风险和动力机制,并提出风险防范建议。研究结果表明:河口潮汐汊道落潮流三角洲的潮汐水道延伸至沙滩滩面,高潮时淹没,落急时水流集中,形成流向外海的高速水流,极易引发海水浴场安全事故;区域落潮流与汊道落潮流相叠加、落潮流三角洲阻挡沿岸输沙造成下游局部岸段侵蚀以及沿岸输沙变化导致水道迁移摆动等因素进一步加大潮汐汊道附近沙滩的安全风险;安全风险最大的地点位于沿岸输沙下游与区域落潮流流向一致的潮汐水道末端附近沙滩,且该位置不稳定,随波浪场发生年际和季节变化;在潮汐汊道沙滩岸段设置海水浴场前应研究其动力地貌和发育演变,划分危险区和安全区,浴场设置后定期监测并确定危险区的位置,并在沙滩安全维护和质量评价等方面将潮汐汊道作为重要判定指标。     

象山港潮滩坡度对潮动力影响的数值研究

象山港属于狭长型半封闭港湾，湾内分布有大面积潮滩。多年以来象山港内实施了大量海岸工程及养殖工程，湾内潮滩坡度发生了显著变化。基于非结构网格和有限体积数值模式（FVCOM）建立象山港三维潮动力模型，研究湾内不同区域潮滩坡度变化对象山港潮动力过程的影响机理。结果表明：潮滩坡度下降将增大湾内纳潮量，进而增大M2分潮振幅和迟角，反之则反。铁港潮滩坡度的减小（增大），将改变底部耗散项，进而增大（减小）M4分潮振幅。由于M2和M4分潮的振幅在湾顶较大，所以湾顶（铁港）潮滩坡度对象山港潮动力过程的影响明显大于侧岸（西沪港）。西沪港潮滩坡度对象山港潮动力过程的影响是局部的。铁港、西沪港潮滩坡度对湾内潮汐不对称、余流及潮能影响显著。铁港潮滩坡度的改变均会减弱湾内落潮占优程度。西沪港区域潮滩坡度的减小将减弱湾内落潮占优趋势，反之则反。铁港和西沪港潮滩坡度的减小，将增大余流大小及潮能密度，进而潮能耗散增大，反之则反。研究结果对河口海岸潮滩区域的工程建设及生态修复有重要参考价值。     

Relationships Between Tidal Prism and Throat Area of Tidal Inlets Along Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea Coasts

The relationship between P (spring tidal prism) and A (throat area below mean sea level) is statistically analysed in terms of 29 tidal inlets or bays along the Huanghai Sea (Yellow Sea) and Bohai Sea coasts. For 15 of these tidal inlets, the best regression equation is A(km2) = 0.845 />(km3)1.20. The analysis shows that C and n are little different from those in the P-A relationship for the inlets of the South China Sea and East China Sea coasts. It is noted that the relationship between P and A is unstable because of the difference in sediment abundance. The study shows that a united P-A relationship can be obtained for the tidal inlets of lagoon type and bay-drowned-valley type, not containing some half-circle shape bays which confront deep water. These half-circle bays do not belong to tidal inlets because they do not have enough sediment abundance and are fairly open.     

Morphodynamics of the barrier-inlet system, west-central Florida

The barrier-inlet system along the Gulf Coast of peninsular Florida has one of the most diverse morphologies of any barrier system in the world. The delicate balance between tidal- and wave-generated processes on this low-energy coast permits only slight changes in either of these processes to result in significant and rapidly developing morphologic responses. Some of these responses are the result of natural phenomena such as hurricanes opening tidal inlets, closure of inlets due to longshore transport of sediment, and changes in the availability of sediment. Tidal prism is the primary factor in controlling inlet morphology and is greatly influenced by anthropogenic activities in the backbarrier area. Human activity has also modified the coast in many ways over the past several decades, beginning with the construction of the first causeways in the 1920s. The various modifications by development have resulted in important morphodynamic changes in the barrier-inlet system. These include hardening the coast on the beach and at inlets, dredging and filling in backbarrier environments, and construction of fill-type causeways connecting the islands to the mainland. Construction of seawalls and jetties has inhibited normal coastal processes. Examples include the downdrift erosion at Blind Pass and Big Sarasota Pass. Construction of fill-type causeways between the barriers and the mainland has created artificial tidal divides that reduce the tidal prism at some inlets, thereby resulting in instability or closure such as Blind Pass and Dunedin Pass. This is further exacerbated by dredge and fill construction that reduces tidal prism by reducing the area of open water in the backbarrier. Dredging of the Intracoastal Waterway also results in a negative impact on selected inlets by channeling tidal flux away from some inlets. Impacts of these changes inhibit the barrier/inlet environments from responding to open coast processes.     

ADCP measurements of suspended sediment flux at the entrance to Jiaozhou Bay, western Yellow Sea

The purpose of the present contribution is to explore the technique to use Acoustic Doppler Current Pro- filers （ADCPs） for suspended sediment flux measurements, which may be applied to coastal embayment environments such as estuaries and tidal inlets for sediment exchange and budget studies. Based on tidal cycle measurements from the entrance of ]iaozhou Bay, Shandong Peninsula, eastern China, statistical rela- tionships between the suspended sediment concentration （SSC） and ADCP echo intensity output are estab- lished. Echo intensity data obtained during an ADCP survey along two cross-sections during a spring tidal phase were transformed into SSC data. The ADCP current velocity and SSC data were then used to calculate the flux of fine-grained sediment. The results show that net sediment transport at the entrance is directed towards the open sea, with an order of magnitude of 103 t per spring tidal cycle; hence, although Jiaozhou Bay is a low SSC environment, the tidally induced suspended sediment transport can be intense.     

Broad classification of New Zealand inlets with emphasis on residence times

Thirty‐two New Zealand coastal inlets are tentatively classified into seven groups with probable similar circulation patterns, based on ratios of their physical parameters: volume, tidal compartment, entrance width, surface area, length, and average width. Eighteen of these have a predominant tidal flow, shown from their small ratio (ß < 4) of tidal compartment to total volume, and the cross‐sectional areas of their entrances are controlled by the tidal flow: Moutere, Waimea, Aotea, Whanganui, Avon‐Heathcote, Tauranga, Parengarenga, Porirua‐Pauatahanui, Kawhia, Nelson, Rangaunu, Raglan, Whangarei, Bluff, Otago, Hokianga, Manukau, and Whangaruru. The other fourteen range from long narrow sounds with probable strong vertical circulation (e.g., Pelorus Sound) to large bays with strong mean horizontal circulations (e.g., Tasman and Hawke Bays).

Examples of residence time calculated in inlets with ß > 4 are given for Tasman Bay, a bay with a mean horizontal circulation, which has a residence time of 1–3 months, and Pelorus Sound, an inlet with a vertically complex circulation, which has a residence time of about 20 d.     

Morphodynamic behaviour of a mixed sand–gravel ebb-tidal delta: Deben estuary,Suffolk, UK

The morphodynamics of inlets and ebb-tidal deltas reflect the interaction between wave and tidal current-driven sediment transport and significantly influence the behaviour of adjacent shorelines. Studies of inlet morphodynamics have tended to focus on sand-dominated coastlines and reference to gravel-dominated or ‘gravel-rich’ inlets is rare. This work characterises and conceptualises the morphodynamics of a meso-tidal sand–gravel inlet at the mouth of the Deben estuary, southeast England. Behaviour of the inlet and ebb-tidal delta over the last 200 yr is analysed with respect to planform configuration and bathymetry. The estuary inlet is historically dynamic, with ebb-tidal shoals exhibiting broadly cyclic behaviour on a 10 to 30 yr timescale. Quantification of inlet parameters for the most recent cycle (1981–2003) indicate an average ebb delta volume of 1 × 10⁶ m³ and inlet cross-sectional area of 775 m². Bypassing volumes provide a direct indicator of annual longshore sediment transport rate over this most recent cycle of 30–40 × 10³ m³ yr^− 1. Short-term increases in total ebb-tidal delta volume are linked to annual variability in the north to northeasterly wind climate. The sediment bypassing mechanism operating in the Deben inlet is comparable to the ‘ebb delta breaching’ model of FitzGerald [FitzGerald, D.M., 1988. Shoreline erosional–depositional processes associated with tidal inlets, in: Aubrey, D.G., Weishar, L. (Ed.), Hydrodynamics and Sediment Dynamics of Tidal Inlets. Springer-Verlag Inc., New York, pp. 186–225.], although the scales and rates of change exhibited are notably different to sand-dominated systems. A systematic review of empirical models of sand-dominated inlet and ebb-tidal delta morphodynamics (e.g. those of [O'Brien, M.P., 1931. Estuary tidal prisms related to entrance areas. Civil Engineering, 1, 738–739.; Walton, T.L., and Adams, W.D., 1976. Capacity of inlet outer bars to store sand. Proceedings of 15th Coastal Engineering Conference, 1919–1937.; Gaudiano, D.J., Kana, T.W., 2001. Shoal bypassing in mixed energy inlets: geomorphic variables and empirical predictions for nine South Carolina inlets. J. Coast. Res., 17, (2), 280–291.]) shows the Deben system to be significantly smaller yet characterised by a longer bypassing cycle than would be expected for its tidal prism. This is attributed to its coarse-grained sedimentology and the lower efficiency of sediment transporting processes.     

Spatial and Temporal Entry Patterns of Fish Larvae into North Carolina Estuaries: Comparisons Among One Pelagic and Two Demersal Species

A sampling programme targeting larvae of winter spawning fishes immigrating from the oceanic domain into the Pamlico-Albemarle Sounds system (NC, U.S.A.) was performed at the four major inlets of the lagoon system. Sampling yielded abundant catches of three species, a Clupeid (Atlantic menhaden,Brevoortia tyrannus) and two Sciaenids (Atlantic croaker,Micropogonias undulatusand spot,Leiostomus xanthurus). In this article, the author documents the differences in the mechanisms developed for estuarine recruitment among the three species. Abundance at the tidal inlets was dependent upon numerous factors, such as sampling month, inlet, luminosity, tide flow direction and depth. The spatial and temporal positioning of the larvae differed among the species and affected their capabilities to be transported through the inlets. More specifically, spot and croaker migrated vertically within the water column in accordance with the direction of the water flow. Sciaenids minimized the outwelling effects of ebb tides by migrating into the slowest ebbing currents, near the bottom. Menhaden did not rely on vertical migrations for estuarine transport and retention. For this species, landward transport is provided either when dusk and flood onset are coincident or through non-tidal flows developing under meteorological forcing. The Sciaenids were less, or not, dependent upon these conditions. In one inlet, the retention was dependent upon the strength of the flooding and ebbing flows. In this case, the retention of the pelagic species was lower than the retention of demersal species.     

ON TIDAL INLETS OF CHINA

Tidal inlets should be distinguished from tidal channels which connect open sea at both ends. In China, tidal inlets may be grouped into (1) embayment-lagoon type on sandy or rocky coast, (2) estua-rine inlets on the mouths of small or medium rivers which may be on mud plain coast, and (3) artificial inlets enclosed by breakwaters. Improvement of navigation channels of these inlets follows the same principle using O'Brien P-A formula. Where accurate oceanographical and littoral drift data are not available, a careful analysis of coastal morphology and sedimentology may provide a useful clue for the evaluation of the value of inlets in navigation.     

黄渤海沿岸潮汐汊道的P－A关系

本文计算了１５个潮汐汊道的大潮潮棱体Ｐ及平均海面下口门最小过水断面积Ａ之间的回归方程式。黄渤海沿岸潮汐汊道的天然状态下的Ｐ－Ａ关系为：Ａ＝０．０８４５Ｐ１．０２０。Ｐ与Ａ不仅具有密切的相关性，还有相当大的离散性，这主要与潮汐汊道所获取的泥沙丰度及潮汐汊道的发育阶段有关。与南海、东海沿岸Ｐ－Ａ关系的对比表明，中国海和海区Ｐ－Ａ关系中的常数Ｃ和ｎ差别不大。研究也表明，泻湖型和海湾－溺谷湾型两种潮汐汊道可求得统一的Ｐ－Ａ关系。但与滨临深水区的半环抱形海湾不同。后者主要因为没有较充裕的泥沙供应及海湾水域较为开敞，而不应列入潮汐汊道的范畴。     

Stability of tidal inlets—Pass Cavallo,Texas

Many tidal inlets are scoured in loose granular material, and the morphological changes in these inlets are discussed. The changes are the result of the predominantly fortnightly variations in the tide, the seasonal variations in storm activity and the occurrence of extreme meteorological events. The adjustment of an inlet to changes in the hydraulic environment and sudden changes in its morphology associated with extreme meteorological events is primarily via a change in the cross-sectional area. For a single-inlet bay system, the response of the inlet cross-sectional area can be determined using the stability analysis presented by Escoffier (1940). Rather than one inlet, many bays are connected to the ocean by several inlets. In this study, Escoffier's analysis is expanded to include the interaction of these inlets. In the analysis, the sediment carrying capacity of the inlet currents is characterized by the bottom shear stress. The stability analysis is applied to Pass Cavallo, Texas. Assuming the absence of future influences of tropical storms and hurricanes, the analysis shows that as a result of the opening of a companion inlet, Pass Cavallo ultimately will close.     

Distributional patterns and variation of valve diameter of Paralia sulcata in surface sediments of Southern British Columbia Inlets

Paralia sulcata is one of 7 species out of 216 identified from 95 surface sediment samples which has a relative abundance of ≥2% of the total count. The relative abundance of P. sulcata in the surface sediments increases in the direction of increasing salinity in the surface waters, toward the mouth in high and medium runoff inlets, and toward the head in the low runoff inlets. The absolute abundance of P. sulcata in the surface sediments, and primary productivity, both increase toward the mouth in high and medium runoff inlets. Increasing valve diameter of P. sulcata is associated with both increasing salinity of the surface waters and increasing primary productivity.     

Process-based 2DH morphodynamic modeling of tidal inlets: A comparison with empirical classifications and theories

The economical and ecological importance of tidal inlets has fostered the development of empirical tools for inlet management during the last century. This study aims at confronting these empirical theories with results obtained with a process-based numerical model, MORSYS2D. This 2DH morphodynamic modeling system is applied to an idealized tidal inlet/lagoon system with different combinations of significant wave height, tidal range and tidal prism. The numerical model predictions are compared to the empirical models of Hayes, Bruun, O'Brien and FitzGerald and to morphologies observed at natural tidal inlets. The results present good accordance with observations as well as with some key behaviors predicted with the empirical theories. The predicted morphologies satisfy the relation of O'Brien between the tidal prism and the cross-sectional area, the model reproduces the conceptual model of sand by-passing by ebb-tidal delta breaching of FitzGerald and the classifications of Hayes and Bruun are generally respected. However, some inconsistencies between model results and Hayes classification highlight the limitations of applying this classification, which only considers the yearly-averaged significant wave height and tidal range, to a single tidal inlet case.     

Morphological response of tidal basins to human interventions

This study focuses on the prediction of the long-term morphological evolution of tidal basins due to human interventions. New analytical results have been derived for an existing model [ASMITA, Aggregated Scale Morphological Interaction between a Tidal inlet and the Adjacent coast; Stive, M.J.F., Capobianco, M., Wang, Z.B., Ruol, P., Buijsman, M.C., 1998. Morphodynamics of a Tidal Lagoon and adjacent Coast. 8th International Biennial Conference on Physics of Estuaries and Coastal Seas, The Hague, September 1996, 397–407.]. Through linearisation of the model equations a set of time scales is obtained that describe the main features of the morphological evolution of tidal inlets. The magnitude of these system time scales is determined by inlet geometry and sediment exchange processes. The nature and degree of interventions determine which time scales are dominant. We focus on five different tidal inlets in the Wadden Sea. For these inlets, the system time scales have been estimated. The model has been applied to simulate the morphological response of the Marsdiep and Vlie inlets to the closure of the Zuiderzee in 1932. In this way, the model and associated system time scales for each of these inlets have been validated. Results show that in both inlets, the channels display the largest adaptation time. It will take at least a century before the channels and hence the tidal inlet systems reach a new morphological equilibrium.     

Hydro-morphological modeling to characterize the adequacy of jetties and subsidiary alternatives in sedimentary stock rationalization within tidal inlets of marine lagoons

Alterations to the tidal inlets shoals, whether natural or anthropogenic, can dramatically influence the hydro-morphological balance of the inlet system in the short and long-term. Jettied inlets, despite typically supported by former technical design reports in curtailing the sedimentology stock, sometimes they require amendments. This paper provides an expository epitome for understanding the role of jetties in concerning the extent of their adequacy to economically and ecologically rationalize the internal siltation within both the western and the eastern tidal inlets of the Bardawil Lagoon, which is situated along the Mediterranean coastline of the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt. The main tool to characterize that role is the hydro-morphological modeling of the inlets system. We used a two-dimensional hydrodynamic circulation model consisting of two steering modules, CMS-Flow and CMS-Wave. In a five-year simulation process, this study emphasized that the sole use of jetties was noticeably insufficient to fulfill the satisfactory stabilization of the sedimentation processes inside the inlets. Consequently, the lake's ecosystem might entirely collapse in the short run due to the progressive deposits fashioning in the form of ebb/flood-tidal deltas. Accordingly, we proposed alternative solutions based on structural modulation scenarios in the vicinity of inlets domain encompassing jetties extension, flow-diverted wall (FDW), sediment trap (ST), random radial channels (RC) and lateral wide channel (LWC). Based upon the results of an optimization model using the Mamdani-type fuzzy inference system, the addition of a lined LWC alongside with jetties proved to be an effective solution over a longer period that rather meets the needs of the majority of stakeholders satisfactorily.