Impacts of Relative Sea-level Rise on Evolution of Shallow Estuaries
Freidrichs, C.T., D.G. Aubrey, and P.E. Speer
In: Cheng, R.T. (ed.), Residual Currents and Long-term Transport. Coastal and Estuarine Studies, Springer-Verlag New York, Inc., Vol. 38, pp. 105-122, 1990 WHOI-R-90-015
This study investigated the potential impact of sea-level rise by utilizing both one-dimensional numerical modeling and seasonal fluctuations in mean sea levels at six shallow estuaries along the U.S. Atlantic Coast. These fluctuations are used as analogues to interannual trends in mean sea-level rise. These findings have implications for the evolution of shallow estuaries as global sea-level rises (an anticipated consequence of increased atmospheric trace gas loading). Whether estuaries import or export increased amounts of sediments as global sea-level rises depends on local estuarine geometry. Some systems will infill faster as sea-level rises, while some will flush more efficiently. These contrasting responses to mean sea-level rise mandate a careful assessment of how any individual estuary may respond to rising water levels.