Changes in the tidal capacity of the River mersey - report on studies made in 1984-85

This study has been undertaken to identify changes in estuarine sediment distribution and assess the factors responsible in a multi-channel system as represented by inner estuary the River Mersey. A report produced in March 1983 (IT244) examined changes in the tidal capacity of the estuary between 1861 and 1977 and concluded that there were three distinct periods of change. In this second stage, the study has been directed towards establishing the reasons for changes, differentiating between periods of relative stability in estuary capacity and periods of rapid decline.