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Sediment transport and morphological response on a macro-tidal sandy beach, Mariakerke, Belgium
Brand, E.; Chen, M.; Montreuil, A.-L.; Dan, S. (2017). Sediment transport and morphological response on a macro-tidal sandy beach, Mariakerke, Belgium, in: HydroSenSoft, International Symposium and Exhibition on Hydro-Environment Sensors and Software. 1-3 March 2017, Madrid, Spain. pp. 1-7
In: (2017). HydroSenSoft, International Symposium and Exhibition on Hydro-Environment Sensors and Software. 1-3 March 2017, Madrid, Spain. AIRH/IFEMA: Madrid.
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  • Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee: Open Marine Archive 340173 [ download pdf ]
  • Waterbouwkundig Laboratorium: Open Repository 340761
Document type: Conference paper
Author keywords
    hydrodynamics, intertidal zone, sediment concentration, backscatter intensity
Authors  Top 
  • Brand, E.
  • Chen, M.
  • Montreuil, A.-L.
  • Dan, S.
Abstract
    Our knowledge of suspended sediment transport in the nearshore zone is limited. This is due to difficulties in relating hydrodynamics, sediment transport and morphological changes on a meso-scale (weeks-years). The aim of this research is to study the effect of offshore suspended sediment discharge on beach morphology in relation to simultaneous measurements of hydrodynamic conditions. Hydrodynamics and suspended sediment concentrations were measured in the nearshore zone at Mariakerke, Belgium, for two months. Beach topographical profiles were measured three times during this period. Measured suspended sediment concentrations showed a clear spring-neap tidal cycle. They are not related to wave height under calm conditions (wave height < 1.0 m). The sediment concentrations were often higher during flood than during ebb tide. A small shoreward transport of sediment was observed, but the intertidal beach volume increased significantly more during the research period. Although not all morphological changes could be related to offshore sediment discharge, they could be linked to the offshore hydrodynamic conditions. When the wave steepness is small (< 0.02), the intertidal beach volume increases. Peaks in wave steepness result in erosion of the intertidal area.
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