Factors influencing subaqueous dunes in the Scheldt Estuary

Abstract

The size (wavelength and height) and the factors influencing the characteristics of subaqueous dunes in the river Scheldt between Antwerp and the Belgian-Dutch border were studied. More than 60 dune clusters (each cluster represented by a mean height and wavelength of mostly 10 to 20 or more observations) were analysed. A very good exponential correlation between dune height and wavelength was observed (r=0.90) which can be described by H mean=0.0321L 0.918. Length/depth ratios vary between 0.2 and 9, height/depth ratios between 0.25 and 0.01. There was no clear relationship between current velocity and dune size, as dunes of various sizes co-exist at the same current velocities. Twenty-two dunes were sampled and show grain sizes (d50) ranging between 0.1 and 0.7 mm. Seven out of eight large scale dune fields were found in sandy and/or hard bottom (gravel, coarse sand and shell fragments) environments, whereas small and medium dunes were found in muddy sand and sandy mud environments.