Modelling Hydrodynamic Impacts of Sea-Level Rise on Wave-Dominated Australian Estuaries with Differing Geomorphology
Sea-level rise (SLR) will affect the hydrodynamics and flooding characteristics of estuaries which are a function of the geomorphology of particular estuarine systems. This study presents a numerical modelling of coastal flooding due to drivers such as spring-tides, storm surges and river inflows an...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2018-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/6/2/66 |
| _version_ | 1818948669592829952 |
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| author | Kristian Kumbier Rafael C. Carvalho Colin D. Woodroffe |
| author_facet | Kristian Kumbier Rafael C. Carvalho Colin D. Woodroffe |
| author_sort | Kristian Kumbier |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Sea-level rise (SLR) will affect the hydrodynamics and flooding characteristics of estuaries which are a function of the geomorphology of particular estuarine systems. This study presents a numerical modelling of coastal flooding due to drivers such as spring-tides, storm surges and river inflows and examines how these will change under sea-level increases of 0.4 m and 0.9 m for two estuaries that are at different geomorphological evolutionary stages of infill. Our results demonstrate that estuarine response to SLR varies between different types of estuaries, and detailed modelling is necessary to understand the nature and extent of inundation in response to SLR. Comparison of modelling results indicates that floodplain elevation is fundamental in order to identify the most vulnerable systems and estimate how inundation extents and depths may change in the future. Floodplains in mature estuarine systems may drown and experience a considerable increase in inundation depths once a certain threshold in elevation has been exceeded. By contrast, immature estuarine systems may be subject to increases in relative inundation extent and substantial changes in hydrodynamics such as tidal range and current velocity. The unique nature of estuaries does not allow for generalisations; however, classifications of estuarine geomorphology could indicate how certain types of estuary may respond to SLR. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T08:50:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f2b0a78be7fc4add87b8a16966f2a619 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1312 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T08:50:29Z |
| publishDate | 2018-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-f2b0a78be7fc4add87b8a16966f2a6192022-12-21T19:46:08ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122018-06-01626610.3390/jmse6020066jmse6020066Modelling Hydrodynamic Impacts of Sea-Level Rise on Wave-Dominated Australian Estuaries with Differing GeomorphologyKristian Kumbier0Rafael C. Carvalho1Colin D. Woodroffe2School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong 2522, AustraliaSchool of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong 2522, AustraliaSchool of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong 2522, AustraliaSea-level rise (SLR) will affect the hydrodynamics and flooding characteristics of estuaries which are a function of the geomorphology of particular estuarine systems. This study presents a numerical modelling of coastal flooding due to drivers such as spring-tides, storm surges and river inflows and examines how these will change under sea-level increases of 0.4 m and 0.9 m for two estuaries that are at different geomorphological evolutionary stages of infill. Our results demonstrate that estuarine response to SLR varies between different types of estuaries, and detailed modelling is necessary to understand the nature and extent of inundation in response to SLR. Comparison of modelling results indicates that floodplain elevation is fundamental in order to identify the most vulnerable systems and estimate how inundation extents and depths may change in the future. Floodplains in mature estuarine systems may drown and experience a considerable increase in inundation depths once a certain threshold in elevation has been exceeded. By contrast, immature estuarine systems may be subject to increases in relative inundation extent and substantial changes in hydrodynamics such as tidal range and current velocity. The unique nature of estuaries does not allow for generalisations; however, classifications of estuarine geomorphology could indicate how certain types of estuary may respond to SLR.http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/6/2/66inundationcoastal floodingestuarine geomorphologyhydrodynamic modellingbarrier estuaryAustralia |
| spellingShingle | Kristian Kumbier Rafael C. Carvalho Colin D. Woodroffe Modelling Hydrodynamic Impacts of Sea-Level Rise on Wave-Dominated Australian Estuaries with Differing Geomorphology Journal of Marine Science and Engineering inundation coastal flooding estuarine geomorphology hydrodynamic modelling barrier estuary Australia |
| title | Modelling Hydrodynamic Impacts of Sea-Level Rise on Wave-Dominated Australian Estuaries with Differing Geomorphology |
| title_full | Modelling Hydrodynamic Impacts of Sea-Level Rise on Wave-Dominated Australian Estuaries with Differing Geomorphology |
| title_fullStr | Modelling Hydrodynamic Impacts of Sea-Level Rise on Wave-Dominated Australian Estuaries with Differing Geomorphology |
| title_full_unstemmed | Modelling Hydrodynamic Impacts of Sea-Level Rise on Wave-Dominated Australian Estuaries with Differing Geomorphology |
| title_short | Modelling Hydrodynamic Impacts of Sea-Level Rise on Wave-Dominated Australian Estuaries with Differing Geomorphology |
| title_sort | modelling hydrodynamic impacts of sea level rise on wave dominated australian estuaries with differing geomorphology |
| topic | inundation coastal flooding estuarine geomorphology hydrodynamic modelling barrier estuary Australia |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/6/2/66 |
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