Morphodynamics of tidal networksprocesses, feedbacks and long-term evolution = Morfodinámica de los canales mareales : procesos, interacciones y la evolución a largo plazo

Abstract

Tidal networks are characterized by an intricate hierarchy of channels and shoals, acting as one of the most striking morphological features in coastal and estuarine environments. Located at the land-sea boundaries, they are shaped by feedbacks between a variety of processes operating over a wide range of temporal and spatial scales. The aim of this thesis is to investigate the effects of the major processes and their associated feedbacks on the long-term morphodynamics of tidal networks. Through a comparative study of physical and numerical modeling of tidal networks, this research indicates that fast- and small-scale models can reproduce the long-term morphological evolution of tidal networks. Quantitative comparisons in terms of a variety of different geometric measures are conducted and suggest that numerical modeling is a useful tool to unravel the mechanisms underlying the morphodynamic behaviors of tidal networks. This research also constructs a comprehensive framework to study the river-influenced tidal network system and explores the physics governing the distribution of different types of sediment on intertidal flats.