UTFacultiesETDepartmentsCEMResearch groupsWater Engineering and ManagementResearchMELODY project: Scale interactions of sand waves on the lower shoreface

MELODY project: Scale interactions of sand waves on the lower shoreface

Title of the project
MELODY project: Scale interactions of sand waves on the lower shoreface

Type
PhD research

Duration
2022 – 2026

Persons involved
L. Portos Amill (PhD Candidate)
Dr.ir. P.C. Roos (Daily Supervisor and 1st Promotor)
Dr.ir. J.H. Damveld (Co-Supervisor)
Prof.dr. S.J.M.H. Hulscher (2nd Promotor)

Funding of the project
NWO

Summary of the research
Tidal sand waves are rhythmic patterns observed in the lower shoreface that show a migration of several meters per year. They are characterized by a topographic wavelength (~200-800 m) as spatial scale and their typical time of formation (years to decades) as a temporal scale.  Tidal sand waves co-exist with other bedforms, which have been mostly studied in isolation. Apart from some exploratory models, little is known about the associated couplings (i.e., the effects of ripples on tidal sand waves as well as those of sand waves on tidal sand banks or shoreface-connected ridges, and on the lower shoreface itself).

Among all the patterns constituting the lower shoreface, tidal sand waves can be viewed as the most important from an engineering perspective.  Within the MELODY project (ModEling LOwer Shoreface Seabed DYnamics for a Climate-Proof Coast), we aim to understand the hydrodynamic feedback between tidal sand waves and larger-scale topography as well as sand wave morphodynamics superimposed on background topography. These will be investigated using a combination of idealized and complex models.

Keywords 
Lower shoreface
Tidal sand waves
Scale interactions
Sand transport
Morphodynamic modeling

More information
Laura Portos Amill
Room: Horst-Ring W209
Tel: +31534899529
E-mail: l.portosamill@utwente.nl