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7 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What is a tidal inlet?
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An opening in the shoreline through which water penetrates the land, thereby providing a connection between the ocean and bays, lagoons and marsh and tidal creek systems. The main channel of a tidal inlet is maintained by tidal currents. They are responsible for the continual removal of sediment dumped into the main channel by wave action.
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Why are tidal inlets important?
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- Provide a passageway for ships to travel from open ocean to sheltered waters
- Nutrients are exchanged between back barrier lagoons and estuaries and the open coastal waters - Fish rely upon tidal inlets for access to back barrier regions for feeding, breeding and nursery grounds for their young - In many lagoons, tidal inlets maintain the salinities, temperatures and nutrient levels that are necessary for the reproduction and growth of valuable shell fish - Also affect erosion - deposition patterns on adjacent barriers |
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How are the sides of tidal inlets formed? How are tidal inlets formed?
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The sides of inlets are formed by the re-curved ridges of spits, consisting of sand that was transported toward the back barrier by refracted waves and flood-tidal currents. The inlet is formed by breaching, spit accretion, and estuary of drowned river valleys
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Tidal prism
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Volume of water entering or leaving the inlet during a 1/2 tidal cycle.
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What is the O'Brien relationship?
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Plotting the cross-sectional area of the inlet throat (measured at mean sea level) versus its tidal prism during spring tide condition (so direct relationship between an inlet's tidal prism and cross-sectional area).
This model exists globally because the filling and emptying of the back barrier are governed by the rise and fall of the ocean tides. |
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Things that affect tidal range?
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- Shoreline configuration
- Shelf width size - Dimensions of amphidromic system Position of amphidromic system affects TR, which indefinitely affect bay tidal prism and ultimately inlet size. |
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Things that impact the Bay area behind the inlet?
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- Backshore slope
- Regional topography Sedimentation history of the bay affect the size, which indefinitely affect the bay tidal prism and ultimately the inlet size. |
