Abstract
Beach erosion and water quality degradation have been observed in Singleton Swash, a tidal creek that traverses the beach-face connecting land and ocean in Myrtle Beach, SC. The objective of this study in Singleton Swash is to explore relationships between water quality and hydrodynamics, where the latter are influenced by beach face morphology. We measure water velocities, water levels, and dissolved oxygen concentrations (DO) (a proxy for water quality) and apply correlation analysis to examine the relationships between physical processes and dissolved oxygen variations. Results show that larger tidal ranges are associated with higher mean levels of DO in the tidal creek. The larger tidal ranges are linked to larger magnitude currents, which increase both the DO transport via larger fluxes of oxygenated oceanic water into the swash and the magnitude of Reynolds shear stresses; due to tidal asymmetries, flood currents are stronger than ebb currents in this system. Based on these results, it is concluded that the combined transport of oxygenated waters into the tidal creek from the ocean on large flood tides and subsequent mixing due to large Reynolds shear stresses result in the observed net DO concentration increases in the creek over tidal cycles.
Highlights
Tidal creeks are common along the southeastern coast of the United States and serve many functions for the surrounding ecosystem and infrastructure
A change in inundation and mean-sea level can impact species distribution due to changes in local habitat [1], which may in turn influence the overall function and health of tidal creek systems
This study focuses on Singleton Swash, a typical tidal creek located 11 km north of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (Figure 1A)
Summary
Tidal creeks are common along the southeastern coast of the United States and serve many functions for the surrounding ecosystem and infrastructure. A change in inundation and mean-sea level can impact species distribution due to changes in local habitat [1], which may in turn influence the overall function and health of tidal creek systems. Sediment supply and solute concentration are among the factors that vary with tides, local winds, non-tidal currents, and waves [3]. Anthropogenic modifications to these systems (e.g., dredging, construction, and runoff alteration) can change the tidal creek system both directly and indirectly. Runoff alteration via engineered conveyance systems, for example, can change drainage characteristics and affect natural flow dynamics between tidal creeks and the ocean, which may, in turn, affect biogeochemical cycling and ecosystem function
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