Development strategy for morphodynamic modelling of tidal inlets

Within KPP B&O Kust, Deltares and Rijkswaterstaat work together to answer questions related to the functioning of nourishments and to gain insight in- and disseminate knowledge on the (Dutch) coastal system. Within the subproject "Uitwisseling getijdebekkens en eilandkoppen", both the Delta area in the southwestern part of the Netherlands and the Wadden Sea are studied using data analysis and modelling.

Morphodynamic modelling may improve our knowledge of the morphodynamic system of the Wadden sea and provide insight in the efficacy of nourishing the Wadden sea and it's ebb-tidal delta's. It may also be used for predicting effects of environmental changes and interferences such as nourishments. However, model development is required to increase the applicability of and confidence in morphodynamic models for these uses.

This memo describes the envisaged strategic development plan for morphodynamic modelling of tidal inlet systems. This plan focusses on process-based morphodynamic modelling on medium term time scales (5-20 years) because of the added value of this type of models of being able to simulate the behaviour of smaller scale features and interferences and to compute the impact of environmental changes on patterns of sediment transport rates. These sediment transport rates need to be validated using medium term morphodynamic data and simulations. This memo is one of the products of the subproject "Uitwisseling getijdebekkens en eilandkoppen" of KPP B&O Kust programme 2015. This memo will be used and incorporated in the strategy for application and development of morphodynamic models that will be developed later this year within the KUSTGENESE2 programme.