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Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-1288
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-1288
22 Jun 2023
 | 22 Jun 2023

Effects of Sea Level Rise and Tidal Flat Growth on Tidal Dynamics and Geometry of the Elbe Estuary

Tara Mahavadi, Rita Seiffert, Jessica Kelln, and Peter Fröhle

Abstract. Future global mean sea level rise (SLR), will affect coastlines and estuaries in the North Sea and therefore coastal protection as well as local unique ecosystems and important waterways. SLR will not only raise water levels, but will also influence tidal- and morphodynamics, which is why the tidal flats of the Wadden Sea can potentially grow to a certain extent with SLR. Investigations on the effects of climate change induced SLR and corresponding potential bathymetric changes inside of estuaries form an important basis for the identification of vulnerabilities and the development of appropriate adaptation strategies. With the help of a highly resolved hydrodynamic-numerical model of the German Bight, we analyse the influence of potential SLR and tidal flat elevation scenarios on tidal dynamics in the Elbe estuary. The results show an increase of tidal range in the Elbe estuary due to SLR and further reveal, that tidal flat growth can have no effect, decrease or increase the tidal range relative to sole SLR, depending on the location and amount of tidal flat elevation. Further analyses demonstrate, how geometric parameters of the Elbe estuary are changing due to SLR and tidal flat elevation. We discuss how these changes in estuarine geometry can be an explanation for the changes in tidal range.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this preprint. The responsibility to include appropriate place names lies with the authors.
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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

18 Mar 2024
Effects of sea level rise and tidal flat growth on tidal dynamics and geometry of the Elbe estuary
Tara F. Mahavadi, Rita Seiffert, Jessica Kelln, and Peter Fröhle
Ocean Sci., 20, 369–388, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-20-369-2024,https://doi.org/10.5194/os-20-369-2024, 2024
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Short summary
Future mean sea level rise (SLR) will influence tidal dynamics and bathymetry in the Wadden sea....
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