Tidal-induced large-scale regular bed form patterns in a three-dimensional shallow water model

Hulscher, Suzanne J.M.H. (1996) Tidal-induced large-scale regular bed form patterns in a three-dimensional shallow water model. Journal of Geophysical Research. Pt. C: Oceans, 101 (C9). 20,727-20,744. ISSN 0148-0227

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Abstract:	The three-dimensional model presented in this paper is used to study how tidal currents form wave-like bottom patterns. Inclusion of vertical flow structure turns out to be necessary to describe the formation, or absence, of all known large-scale regular bottom features. The tide and topography are treated as a coupled system, and the potential free instabilities in this system are investigated. A linear stability analysis is used to study the dynamics of bed forms. This yields information on the role of physical mechanisms; such information cannot be obtained by direct numerical nonlinear simulation. The basic state represents a horizontal elliptical flow, veering in vertical direction, over a flat bottom. It is shown that in such a system, modes can grow which have characteristics of both tidal sand banks and sand waves. The model predictions are compared with observations and show good agreement.
Item Type:	Article
Copyright:	© 1996 American Geophysical Union
Link to this item:	http://purl.utwente.nl/publications/20516
Official URL:	http://www.agu.org/journals/jc/jc9609/96JC01662.pdf
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