Climate Change Impacts on the Stability of Small Tidal Inlets: A Numerical Modelling Study Using the Realistic Analogue Approach

• Main Authors: Trang Minh Duong, Roshanka Ranasinghe, Arjen Luijendijk, Hieu Ngo, Dano Roelvink
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publishing 2012-09-01
• Series: International Journal of Ocean and Climate Systems
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1260/1759-3131.3.3.163

Tidal inlets are of great societal importance as they are often associated with ports and harbours, industry, tourism, recreation and prime waterfront real estate. Their behaviour is governed by the delicate balance of oceanic processes (tides, waves and mean sea level), and fluvial/estuarine processes (riverflow and heat fluxes), all of which can be significantly affected by climate change (CC) processes. This study investigates the potential range of CC impacts on the stability (closed/open state and locational stability) via the application of a sophisticated process based morphodynamic model (Delft3D) to strategically selected schematized inlet morphologies and forcing conditions. Results show that, under worst case scenario conditions, the integrated effect of climate change driven increase in mean sea level, wave height and wave angle may significantly change inlet stability condition.