Tidal rectification on drying estuarine sandbanks

Abstract

Drying estuarine sandbanks experience only that part of the tidal cycle around high water. In a partially progressive tidal wave, this means that the duration of the flood over the sandbank will be greater than that of the ebb: a process of tidal rectification. In this paper, we propose the hypothesis that this leads to flood-directed tidal residual currents over drying sandbanks. The hypothesis is tested by observation and a 2-D hydrodynamical model in the Conwy estuary, a vertically well-mixed macrotidal estuary in North Wales. The observations include tide gauge data, tidal cycle boat surveys, and fixed current meter data. The data show weak flood-directed residual currents over a drying sandbank and much stronger ebb-directed residuals in the channels along the sides of the sandbank. The model reproduces the observations in the vicinity of the sandbank and shows that the tidal rectification mechanism produces a general pattern of residual circulation in the estuary, with flood-directed flow in the drying areas and ebb-directed flow in the channels. The flood residuals are most marked near the estuary mouth where the tidal wave is most progressive in nature. The main application of this mechanism is believed to be in the transport of bedload sediment. The flood-directed residuals will tend to move the tops of the sandbanks upstream.