Long waves & tidal morphodynamics
Understanding the physical processes that govern marine systems is essential for evaluating the impacts of economic activities and environmental change in coastal and offshore regions. The North Sea exemplifies such a complex, multifunctional system—home to shipping, energy infrastructure, biodiversity, and recreation—where integrated knowledge of hydrodynamic and morphodynamic processes is critical.
This course provides both qualitative and quantitative insight into the dynamics of long waves and tides in the marine environment. It begins with a conceptual overview of observed tidal and wave-driven processes and progresses toward a process-based modeling approach. Students will learn to derive and solve simplified hydrodynamic models using partial differential equations and apply these to idealized marine settings. Physical interpretations of model outcomes are emphasized, particularly in relation to field observations and real-world dynamics.
The course builds on the mathematical foundation established in Mathematical Physics of Water Systems, and complements related courses such as Wave-Dominated Coastal Dynamics (focused on nearshore processes) and Morphology (focused on sediment transport and seabed evolution).
Key Topics Include:
- Tidal dynamics and wave propagation in idealized basins and coastal geometries
- Fundamental principles of sediment transport and marine bedform development (e.g., sandbanks, sand waves)
- Barrier coast and inlet dynamics, including simplified models (e.g., Escoffier's approach)
- Wind-driven flow and Ekman layer dynamics
- Interpreting modeled dynamics in relation to observations and environmental applications
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
- Qualitatively understand the process of tide generation
- Derive, analyze, and solve idealized hydrodynamic models of tidal motion in simplified geometries (e.g., Kelvin waves, Taylor problems)
- Understand the fundamentals of sediment transport and characteristics of marine bedforms (e.g., sandbanks, sand waves), and explain their formation through linear stability analysis
- Understand key aspects of barrier coast dynamics and solve basic analytical models (e.g., Escoffier's model)
- Qualitatively describe wind-driven circulation processes, including Ekman dynamics
For whom? Professionals with a HBO degree in Civil Engineering, with a basic understanding of programming and differential equations
When? 1 September 2025 - 24 October 2025
More in depth information on the course in our online course catalogue Osiris : link to osiris course information
Do you want to register for this course? Find the course registration form here
