INFRAGRAVITY WAVES AT A TIDAL INLET

Abstract

The generation and propagation of infragravity waves at sandy coasts has received significant attention (e.g. Herbers et al., 1994). This is in contrast with tidal inlets where both observations and modeling studies are scarce. Here we present novel observations and modeling of infragravity waves over an ebb-tidal delta located at Ameland, the Netherlands. The objective is to understand the evolution of the free and bound infragravity waves as they propagate from the deeper shelf onto an ebb-tidal shoal and into the ebbchannel, establish their pathways and examine the potential in sediment transport. The latter is important in view of the anticipated large-scale ebb-tidal delta nourishment at this location to protect the coast from future storm impacts.