Characterization of Intertidal Bar Morphodynamics Using a Bi-Annual LiDAR Dataset
Intertidal bars are common features on meso-and macro-tidal sandy beaches with low to moderate wave energy environments. Understanding their morphodynamics is, hence, crucial for enhancing our knowledge on beach processes which is beneficial for coastal management. However, most studies have been li...
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2020-11-01
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Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/12/22/3841 |
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doaj-4ff7756b7d27482090df8039a8a17cee2020-11-25T04:11:44ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922020-11-01123841384110.3390/rs12223841Characterization of Intertidal Bar Morphodynamics Using a Bi-Annual LiDAR DatasetAnne-Lise Montreuil0Robrecht Moelans1Rik Houthuys2Patrick Bogaert3Margaret Chen4Hydrology and Hydraulic Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, BelgiumVITO, Remote Sensing Unit, 2040 Mol, BelgiumGeoconsultant, 1502 Halle, BelgiumEarth & Life Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, BelgiumHydrology and Hydraulic Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, BelgiumIntertidal bars are common features on meso-and macro-tidal sandy beaches with low to moderate wave energy environments. Understanding their morphodynamics is, hence, crucial for enhancing our knowledge on beach processes which is beneficial for coastal management. However, most studies have been limited by assessing bar systems two-dimensionally and typically over the short-term. Morphology and dynamics of an intertidal bar system in a macro-tidal environment have been investigated using bi-annual LiDAR topographic surveys over a period of seven years and along 3.2 km at Groenendijk beach (Belgium). The detected bars demonstrate that a morphology of an intertidal bar is permanently on the beach. However, these individual features are dynamic and highly mobile over the course of half a year. The mean height and width of the bars were 1.1 and 82 m, respectively. The highest, steepest, and asymmetric features were found on the upper beach, while they were least developed in the lower intertidal zone. The bars were evenly distributed over the entire intertidal beach, but the largest concentration observed around the mean sea level indicated the occurrence at preferential locations. The most significant net change across the beach occurs between the mean sea level and mean-high-water neap which corroborates with the profile mobility pattern. The seasonal variability of the bar morphology is moderately related to the seasonally driven changes in storm and wave regime forcings. However, a distinct relationship may be inhibited by the complex combination of forcing-, relaxation time- and feedback-dominated response. This work conducted from bi-annual LiDAR surveys has provided an unprecedented insight into the complex spatial organization of intertidal bars as well as their variability in time from seasonal to annual scale.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/12/22/3841beach morphologymacro-tidaltidestopography monitoringBelgian coast |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Anne-Lise Montreuil Robrecht Moelans Rik Houthuys Patrick Bogaert Margaret Chen |
spellingShingle |
Anne-Lise Montreuil Robrecht Moelans Rik Houthuys Patrick Bogaert Margaret Chen Characterization of Intertidal Bar Morphodynamics Using a Bi-Annual LiDAR Dataset Remote Sensing beach morphology macro-tidal tides topography monitoring Belgian coast |
author_facet |
Anne-Lise Montreuil Robrecht Moelans Rik Houthuys Patrick Bogaert Margaret Chen |
author_sort |
Anne-Lise Montreuil |
title |
Characterization of Intertidal Bar Morphodynamics Using a Bi-Annual LiDAR Dataset |
title_short |
Characterization of Intertidal Bar Morphodynamics Using a Bi-Annual LiDAR Dataset |
title_full |
Characterization of Intertidal Bar Morphodynamics Using a Bi-Annual LiDAR Dataset |
title_fullStr |
Characterization of Intertidal Bar Morphodynamics Using a Bi-Annual LiDAR Dataset |
title_full_unstemmed |
Characterization of Intertidal Bar Morphodynamics Using a Bi-Annual LiDAR Dataset |
title_sort |
characterization of intertidal bar morphodynamics using a bi-annual lidar dataset |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Remote Sensing |
issn |
2072-4292 |
publishDate |
2020-11-01 |
description |
Intertidal bars are common features on meso-and macro-tidal sandy beaches with low to moderate wave energy environments. Understanding their morphodynamics is, hence, crucial for enhancing our knowledge on beach processes which is beneficial for coastal management. However, most studies have been limited by assessing bar systems two-dimensionally and typically over the short-term. Morphology and dynamics of an intertidal bar system in a macro-tidal environment have been investigated using bi-annual LiDAR topographic surveys over a period of seven years and along 3.2 km at Groenendijk beach (Belgium). The detected bars demonstrate that a morphology of an intertidal bar is permanently on the beach. However, these individual features are dynamic and highly mobile over the course of half a year. The mean height and width of the bars were 1.1 and 82 m, respectively. The highest, steepest, and asymmetric features were found on the upper beach, while they were least developed in the lower intertidal zone. The bars were evenly distributed over the entire intertidal beach, but the largest concentration observed around the mean sea level indicated the occurrence at preferential locations. The most significant net change across the beach occurs between the mean sea level and mean-high-water neap which corroborates with the profile mobility pattern. The seasonal variability of the bar morphology is moderately related to the seasonally driven changes in storm and wave regime forcings. However, a distinct relationship may be inhibited by the complex combination of forcing-, relaxation time- and feedback-dominated response. This work conducted from bi-annual LiDAR surveys has provided an unprecedented insight into the complex spatial organization of intertidal bars as well as their variability in time from seasonal to annual scale. |
topic |
beach morphology macro-tidal tides topography monitoring Belgian coast |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/12/22/3841 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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