Abstract
Tidal flats play an important role in promoting coastal biodiversity, defense against flooding, land reclamation and recreation. Many coastal tidal flats, especially the tide-dominant ones, are muddy. However, the number of studies on the profile shape and surficial sediment distribution of muddy tidal flats is small compared to sandy beaches. Based on high spatial-resolution measurements along the tide-dominant Jiangsu Coast, China, we analyzed the morphology and sediment characteristics of the unvegetated intertidal flats along the Jiangsu Coast. The Jiangsu Coast can be divided into an eroding northern part (north coast) and an accreting southern part (south coast). The beach slope of the north coast shows a southward flattening trend, apart from some outliers related to rocky parts of the coastline. We found alternating very fine and coarse sediment (depending on the local clay content) for different locations along the north coast, which can be explained from consolidation and armoring-induced erosion resistance. In the south coast, we found gradual coarsening of bed surface sediment and gradual flattening of beach slopes to the south. This seemingly unexpected pattern is explained by the flood-dominant current causing landward sediment transport, larger tidal range in the south part, sheltering effect of the Radial Sand Ridges, and contribution of different sediment sources, viz. the Abandoned Yellow River Delta and the Radial Sand Ridges. In the cross-shore direction, the sediment grain size decreases landward. Waves are only of secondary importance for the sediment dynamics at the unvegetated tidal flats along the Jiangsu Coast.
Highlights
Located at the boundary between land and sea, tidal flats are under the joint control of both terrestrial and marine processes, while they play a vitally important role in promoting coastal biodiversity, protecting coastal regions from flooding, and providing potential land resources and recreation
The goal of this study is to increase in the morphological characteristics of the unvegetated intertidal flats along the our insight in the morphological characteristics of the unvegetated intertidal flatsJiangsu along
The way we defined the beach slope cannot guarantee all results are calculated under The way we defined the beach slope cannot guarantee all results are calculated under the same reference, because at some profiles mean high water (MHW) is above the elevation of the dyke toe, the same reference, because at some profiles MHW is above the elevation of the dyke toe, while at some other profiles large alongshore direction tidal creeks could cut the profiles while at some other profiles large alongshore direction tidal creeks could cut the profiles into separate parts
Summary
Located at the boundary between land and sea, tidal flats are under the joint control of both terrestrial and marine processes, while they play a vitally important role in promoting coastal biodiversity, protecting coastal regions from flooding, and providing potential land resources and recreation. In the progress of coastal resource development, many human activities (e.g., ports construction, reclamation) are conducted on tidal flats, like the Tongzhou Bay port on the Jiangsu Coast, China [1] and the Maasvlakte reclamation in the Netherlands [2]. Tidal flat evolution has been a key research topic in the field of coastal engineering. Sandy beaches with coarse materials tend to be steeper [7,8]. Due to their higher permeability and roughness, coarser materials tend to be more stable in dynamic conditions [8]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
