Morphological modelling of intertidal profiles in estuaries with strong tidal currents

This paper describes a numerical model for predicting the morphology of muddy intertidal cross-shore profiles. The model is an extension of an earlier model by Roberts et al. (2000) which described the equilibrium profile of mud flats in response to cross-shore currents and waves. The extended model also includes long-shore currents and has more detailed handling of hydrodynamic processes, allowing the profile evolution in response to changes in forcing, to be modelled as well as the equilibrium state. The model was applied to successfully reproduce an observed profile from the Severn Estuary and displayed an appropriate degree of variability in response to seasonal wave inputs.