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Presence of connecting channels in the Western Scheldt Estuary

Presence of connecting channels in the Western Scheldt Estuary
Presence of connecting channels in the Western Scheldt Estuary
To predict the effects of dredging operations in the Western Scheldt estuary, insight into the morphological behaviour of its channels is needed. The estuary features two large main channels that meander alongside each other and that are linked by smaller connecting channels. These connecting channels originate from water level differences between the two main channels. Three hydrodynamic mechanisms are investigated that are responsible for generating such water level differences: (1) differences in tidal wave propagation along two neighbouring main channels, (2) centrifugal forces, and (3) Coriolis forces.
The magnitude of the three mechanisms is analytically assessed based on channel geometry, which is derived from historical depth charts. The analysis demonstrates a large temporal variability of the water level differences due to tidal wave propagation, mainly as a function of changes in the depth ratio between the two main channels. Conversely, both the centrifugal effect and the Coriolis effect are relatively constant over time. The temporal evolution of the connecting channels can therefore primarily be attributed to the wave propagation mechanism. A correlation analysis reveals a linear relationship between connecting channel dimensions and the net water level differences produced by the three processes.
The relationship suggests that dredging operations may significantly influence the evolution of connecting channels by changing the depth ratio between the two main channels. The proposed future deepening of the navigation channel is therefore expected to induce a decline in the size, or even a total disappearance, of connecting channels in some parts of the estuary.
morphological evolution, dredging, estuarine management
0749-0208
627-640
Swinkels, Cilia M.
115e5ae9-e9f0-43e7-82b5-07a3308e38a2
Jeuken, Claire M.C.J.L.
9120700d-05b9-4310-9687-549e4891b14b
Wang, Zheng B.
67b62579-6961-4034-b49e-dd3153d4b9bb
Nicholls, Robert J.
4ce1e355-cc5d-4702-8124-820932c57076
Swinkels, Cilia M.
115e5ae9-e9f0-43e7-82b5-07a3308e38a2
Jeuken, Claire M.C.J.L.
9120700d-05b9-4310-9687-549e4891b14b
Wang, Zheng B.
67b62579-6961-4034-b49e-dd3153d4b9bb
Nicholls, Robert J.
4ce1e355-cc5d-4702-8124-820932c57076

Swinkels, Cilia M., Jeuken, Claire M.C.J.L., Wang, Zheng B. and Nicholls, Robert J. (2009) Presence of connecting channels in the Western Scheldt Estuary. Journal of Coastal Research, 25 (3), 627-640. (doi:10.2112/06-0719.1).

Record type: Article

Abstract

To predict the effects of dredging operations in the Western Scheldt estuary, insight into the morphological behaviour of its channels is needed. The estuary features two large main channels that meander alongside each other and that are linked by smaller connecting channels. These connecting channels originate from water level differences between the two main channels. Three hydrodynamic mechanisms are investigated that are responsible for generating such water level differences: (1) differences in tidal wave propagation along two neighbouring main channels, (2) centrifugal forces, and (3) Coriolis forces.
The magnitude of the three mechanisms is analytically assessed based on channel geometry, which is derived from historical depth charts. The analysis demonstrates a large temporal variability of the water level differences due to tidal wave propagation, mainly as a function of changes in the depth ratio between the two main channels. Conversely, both the centrifugal effect and the Coriolis effect are relatively constant over time. The temporal evolution of the connecting channels can therefore primarily be attributed to the wave propagation mechanism. A correlation analysis reveals a linear relationship between connecting channel dimensions and the net water level differences produced by the three processes.
The relationship suggests that dredging operations may significantly influence the evolution of connecting channels by changing the depth ratio between the two main channels. The proposed future deepening of the navigation channel is therefore expected to induce a decline in the size, or even a total disappearance, of connecting channels in some parts of the estuary.

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More information

Published date: May 2009
Additional Information: Published by: Coastal Education and Research Foundation
Keywords: morphological evolution, dredging, estuarine management

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 73788
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/73788
ISSN: 0749-0208
PURE UUID: 1694e4c6-ad7e-44c5-8675-c1e029e566ee
ORCID for Robert J. Nicholls: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-9715-1109

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 11 Mar 2010
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 02:48

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Contributors

Author: Cilia M. Swinkels
Author: Claire M.C.J.L. Jeuken
Author: Zheng B. Wang

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