An Investigation of the Influence of Waves on Sediment Processes in Skagit Bay
2011
Cowles, Geoffrey W
ONR Tidal Flat Dynamics Departmental Research Initiative
Show more [+] Less [-]In this work we will employ an unstructured grid, coupled wave-current-sediment model to study the influence of wave-induced near bottom stresses on the sediment transport and morphological change within the Skagit River delta and Skagit Bay in Western Washington. The resulting coupled wave-current model will resolve the influence of external processes, including tidal forcing, buoyant river discharge, fluvial sediment supply and wind on tidal flat sediment transport. It will be used to evaluate the capabilities of state-of-the-art open source sediment models and to examine dynamic processes influencing net sediment transport over tidal flats and channel networks including convergence fronts; tidal asymmetries; buoyancy forcing; spatial and temporal variations in bed stress; and interactions between channel networks and adjacent tidal flats. Our project is designed to meet the following objectives: couple the existing high-resolution hydro-sediment model of Skagit Bay with a phase-averaged surface wave model, work closely with field measurement programs on the North Fork Flats (S. Elgar and B. Raubenheimer [WHOI]) and South Fork Flats (R. Geyer, P. Traykovski, and D. Ralston [WHOI]) on model-observation comparisons and validation; and use the coupled model to characterize the wave-current regime in Skagit Bay and the spatial distribution of wave-induced bottom shear stresses and their role in the large-scale morphodynamics of the flats. Both of these models were developed with support from the ONR Tidal Flats DRI (N00014-08-1-1115).
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