Conceptual Model for Cross-shore Sediment Transport due to Tides and Waves over Intertidal Flat

Abstract

Conceptual model for geomorphology and sediment transport due to tides and waves over intertidal mudflat has been proposed based on the field measurements of water depth, flow velocity and suspended sediment concentration from July 2004 to January 2008. Suspended-load flux and bed-load ability are expressed relative to the ratio of significant wave height to water depth. The maintenance mechanism for typical convex-upward profile over intertidal mudflat can be explained by the bed-load superiority for suspended-load using the conceptual model.