Abstract
AbstractThe morphology of the Scheldt estuary creates challenges for its different functions. Large shoals and adjacent channels with sharp bends result in challenging conditions for navigation. In...
Highlights
Between the Flemish-Dutch authorities three main functions have been defined for the Scheldt estuary: port accessibility, safety against flooding, and ecology (Rijkswaterstaat Directie Zeeland and Ministry of the Flemish Government 2001)
This study aims at: (1) identifying and improving insight into the present-day complex flow patterns around the sill of Hansweert using field measurements and numerical modeling; and (2) validating, comparing, and preferably improving the model performance of two existing hydrodynamic models of the Scheldt estuary with regard to the representation of these flow patterns
A parametrization of bottom roughness based on sediment and bedform characteristics did not result in satisfactory results and a pragmatic best-fit parametrization of bottom roughness was applied. This opens the discussion on the physical meaning of bottom roughness in the numerical models: when a physical based parametrization is not applicable due to spatial and temporal variation of hydrodynamics and sedimentology, bottom roughness becomes purely a calibration parameter, not respecting the physical meaning of it
Summary
Between the Flemish-Dutch authorities three main functions have been defined for the Scheldt estuary: port accessibility, safety against flooding, and ecology (Rijkswaterstaat Directie Zeeland and Ministry of the Flemish Government 2001). All of these functions are strongly affected by changes in morphology because the interplay between tides and estuarine morphology determines the tidal flow characteristics and sediment transports and sediment concentrations in estuaries (e.g., Townend and Pethick 2002; Wang et al 1999). The ecological functioning of estuaries is influenced by morphological developments through subsequent changes in flow dynamics and sediment concentrations (e.g., van Maren and van Kessel 2016; Meire et al 2005; Mitchell 2013; Winterwerp et al 2013) and by changes in intertidal habitats within the estuarine morphology and geometry (e.g., Cox et al 2006; van der Wal et al 2011).
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