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A regional 2DH hydrodynamic model is used to estimate the tidal stream resource of a site located in a macrotidal environment with extreme tidal velocities. The study site is the Alderney Race (Raz Blanchard in French) which is a straight located in the English Channel between the Alderney Island and La Hague cape (France). The estimation of the resource is used to build two realistic tidal energy extraction scenarios consisting in placing a 290 MW tidal turbine array in two different areas. Then, we analyze the impact of turbines on the hydrodynamics and the sediment transport. The hydrodynamic perturbation is restricted to the vicinity of the array where the mean current velocity reduction reaches 0.3 m/s locally (corresponding to 15% of the baseline velocity). Focusing on the variable driving the bedload (the critical erosion threshold exceedance), we confirm that tidal energy extraction tends to reduce the bedload rate and to deflect the sediment fluxes. Our simulations with a simple model for the suspended sediment transport suggest that tidal energy extraction has a significant effect on the area of deposition of the particles transiting through the tidal farm. For the baseline, the sediment particles transiting through the tidal farm deposit mostly in the eastern part of the English Channel. Depending on the location of the tidal farm, the sediment mass balance between the eastern and the western part of the English Channel changes drastically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vertical distribution of longshore sediment transport was measured on sandy macrotidal barred beaches of Northern France under low to moderate wave energy conditions, using streamer traps collecting sand at different elevations above the bed. Longshore sediment flux measurements and wave and current data were collected at several locations along cross-shore transects in order to analyse the relation between the vertical patterns of suspended sand transport and the forcing hydrodynamics across the bar-trough topography. Suspended sediment fluxes generally showed a typical upward decrease in longshore transport, revealing that near-bed transport represents the major transport mode on these macrotidal beaches, notably over the bars where the highest rates of sediment transport were measured. Conversely to previous studies in which the shape of the vertical distribution was either independent of the location in the surf zone or which showed an increase in suspended transport over intertidal bars, our results revealed a strong upward decrease in longshore sediment transport over bars, especially under higher wave energy conditions, whereas more uniform vertical distributions were observed in troughs. These differences in the vertical distribution of longshore sediment flux can be explained by spatially variable wave breaking and surf zone processes over the bar-trough topography and by the distribution of small-scale bedforms across the intertidal zone, which influence sand resuspension processes and control the shape of the vertical profiles of sediment transport. Larger longshore sediment fluxes over bars can be explained by the action of breaking waves that are responsible for increased sediment remobilization, but the dominance of spilling breakers on the studied beaches likely results in significant turbulence dissipation, leading to limited sand resuspension in the water column. Comparatively, landward propagating surf bores over bars favour an increase in sediment concentration at higher elevations above the bottom in the adjacent trough. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: On 10th March 2008, the high energy storm Johanna hit the French Atlantic coast, generating severe dune erosion on Vougot Beach (Brittany, France). In this paper, the recovery of the dune of Vougot Beach is analysed through a survey of morphological changes and hydrodynamic conditions. Data collection focused on the period immediately following storm Johanna until July 2010, i.e. over two and a half years. Results showed that the dune retreated by a maximum of almost 6m where storm surge and wave attack were the most energetic. Dune retreat led to the creation of accommodation space for the storage of sediment by widening and elevating space between the pre- and post-storm dune toe, and reducing impacts of the storm surge. Dune recovery started in the month following the storm event and is still ongoing. It is characterised by the construction of “secondary” embryo dunes, which recovered at an average rate of 4–4.5cm per month, although average monthly volume changes varied from −1 to 2m3.m−1. These embryo dunes accreted due to a large aeolian sand supply from the upper tidal beach to the existing foredune. These dune-construction processes were facilitated by growth of vegetation on low-profile embryo dunes promoting backshore accretion. After more than two years of survey, the sediment budget of the beach/dune system showed that more than 10,000m3 has been lost by the upper tidal beach. We suggest that seaward return currents generated during the storm of 10th March 2008 are responsible for offshore sediment transport. Reconstitution of the equilibrium beach profile following the storm event may therefore have generated cross-shore sediment redistribution inducing net erosion in the tidal zone. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Field measurements were conducted in Mont-Saint-Michel Bay, a megatidal embayment (spring tidal range of 15 m), in order to monitor, over the course of a tidal cycle, sediment transport variability due to waves and tides on the upper part of a tidal flat characterised by shallow water depths. Sensors used to measure currents, water depth and turbidity were installed just above the bed (0.04 m). Two experiments were conducted under contrasting hydrodynamic conditions. The results highlight wave activity over the tidal flat even though observed wind waves were largely dissipated due to the very shallow water depths. Very high suspended sediment concentrations (up to 6 kg/m3) were recorded in the presence of wave activity at the beginning of the local flood, when significant sediment transport occurred, up to 7 times as much as under conditions of no wave activity. This influence may be attributed to the direct action of waves on bed sediments, to wave-induced liquefaction, and to the erosive action of waves on tidal channel banks. The sediment composition, comprising a clay fraction of 2–5%, may also enhance sediment transport by reducing critical shear stress through the sand lubrication effect. The results also show that antecedent meteorological conditions play an important role in suspended sediment transport on the tidal flat. Total sediment flux directions show a net transport towards the inner part of the bay that contributes to deposition over the adjacent salt marshes, and this tendency also prevails during strong wave conditions. Such sediment transport is characterised by significant variability over the course of the tidal cycle. During fair and moderate weather conditions, 83% and 71% of the total flux was observed, respectively, over only 11% and 28% of the duration of the local tidal cycle and with water depths between 0.04 and 0.3 m. These results suggest that in order to improve our understanding of sediment budgets in this type of coastal environment, it is essential to record data just at the beginning and at the end of tidal submergence close to the bed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper presents a method to investigate the relative influence of waves, wind-induced currents and tidal currents on sediment mobility in coastal environment. It is based on the assumption that, knowing high uncertainties linked to sediment dynamics studies, simple sediment mobility indicators are sufficient tools to provide useful information. This method is based on five main steps: (1) assessing hydrodynamic conditions and related errors spatially and temporally for an area; (2) evaluating the bottom shear stress induced by these hydrodynamic conditions; (3) providing simple sediment mobility indicators; (4) analysing the sensitivity of these indicators to the existing hydrodynamic uncertainties; (5) interpreting indicators knowing their limits (identified in the sensitivity analysis). This methodology is applied to a test site on the inner shelf, seaward of the Pertuis Charentais region in France. Using wave (SWAN) and sea-level and currents (MARS-2DH) modelling, we study the spatial distribution of the relative contribution of waves, tides and wind-induced current in the non-cohesive sediment mobility under storm conditions. The deduced sediment dynamics indicators reveal the dominant action of waves in sediment initiation in the offshore area, in water depths of up to 60m. The sensitivity study, performed in order to evaluate the validity of results, shows that the sediment mobility indicators still provide relevant information, even for hydrodynamic uncertainties of ±20% or furthermore when only a qualitative sedimentological knowledge of the area is available. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In the framework of the European project Eurostrataform, an array of six near-bottom mooring lines was deployed in the heads of the major submarine canyons incising the continental slope of the Gulf of Lions (NW Mediterranean). All moorings were equipped with sediment traps, current meters and turbidity Optical Backscatters Sensors (OBS) situated at few meters above the bottom. Particulate mass fluxes were recorded weekly by the sediment traps between November 2003 and May 2004 and compared with horizontal export fluxes obtained from the turbidity and current meters. Results show that near-bottom vertical particulate mass fluxes generally increase along slope between the northeastern-most and the southwestern region of the Gulf of Lions. Horizontal export fluxes also show some increase southwestward with flux in the southwestern-most canyon up to two-orders of magnitude higher than in northeast canyons. Furthermore, most of the export flux is driven by energetic and short events such as marine storms and dense shelf water cascading. Although the consequence of storms and cascading was obvious from traps and OBS measurements, substantial differences between vertical and horizontal fluxes appeared. While sediment traps recorded the largest vertical flux during the autumn storm (4 December) with contributions from river discharge and resuspended material, horizontal flux as obtained from OBS data was highest in winter (21–24 February). We believe that such discrepancies are partly due to measurement artifacts originating from the particle size effects and/or the different height above the bottom occupied by the traps and OBS which complicate comparisons between vertical and horizontal fluxes. However, different water-column conditions (stratified versus unstratified) together with the hydrodynamic regime during the two periods appear as a likely explanation for the flux differences between fall and winter storms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper describes an integrated study of a typical Mediterranean flood event in the Gulf of Lions. A flood with a 5-year return interval occurred in the Têt River basin and adjacent inner-shelf in the Gulf of Lions, northwest Mediterranean, during April 2004. Data were collected during this flood as part of event-response investigations of the EU-funded Eurostrataform (European Margin Strata Formation) project. Southeasterly storm winds led to a flood which directly modified the inner-shelf hydrodynamics. Sediment delivery to the coastal zone during this flood represented more than half of the mean annual discharge of the Têt River to the Gulf of Lions. This river transported a large amount of sand in suspension, representing 25% of the total suspended load, and as bedload representing 8% of the total load, during this event. Sand introduced in the nearshore was transported northwards during the peak storm and nourished a small delta. Fine sediments were separated from coarse sediments at the river mouth, and were advected southwards and seawards by the counter-clockwise general circulation. Fine-grained sediments were transported via a hypopycnal plume along the coast towards the southern tip of the Gulf of Lions and the Cap Creus canyon. The along-shore currents, which intensified from north to south of the Gulf of Lions, particularly between the Cap Creus promontory and the Cap Creus canyon, favoured the transfer of fine-grained sediments from the continental shelf of the Gulf of Lions towards the continental slope. Our results show that floods with a few-year return interval in small coastal rivers can play a significant role in the transport of sediments on microtidal continental margins and their export from the shelf through canyons. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper investigates the relative influence of waves, wind-induced current and tidal current on the sediment mobility of a macro-tidal environment belonging to the inner shelf seaward of the ‘pertuis Charentais’ (France). This study, mainly based on three-week hydrodynamic in-situ measurements, shows that, for a water depth of 23 m, the swell (rather than wind waves) orbital velocity is large enough to initiate the motion of medium sands that are then transported by currents. Estimations show that medium sand of 0.2 mm is transported during 92% of the measurements, whereas coarse sand and gravel move sporadically, during storm, synchronously with spring tides. Further more, bedload fluxes appear strongly larger when waves are taken into account (370 times larger for 0.2-mm sands). To cite this article: D. Idier et al., C. R. Geoscience 338 (2006). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Along the Northern coast of France, bathymetric surveys were carried out since the early 19th century, and were stored in the French Hydrographic Service (Shom) archives. These hydrographic field sheets were made for mapping the seabed of the coastal zone where tidal sand banks are common, forming linear shore-parallel or slightly oblique massive sand bodies. Digitization of these historical records was undertaken in the course of this study, enabling to assess changes in sand bank morphology and position. Our analyses of bathymetry changes show significant morphological variations across the shoreface since the 19th century, which are largely due to sand bank mobility. Alongshore migration and elongation of sand banks can be related to tidal asymmetry directed to the east-north-east. Shore-perpendicular movement can be related to the action of storm waves that can be responsible for onshore-directed sediment transport. One of the objectives of this study is to attempt to relate the observed changes in coastal and nearshore morphology with possible changes in hydrodynamic processes. A simulation of tidal circulation and of wave propagation over bathymetry grids based on historical bathymetric soundings will enable to compare coastal hydrodynamics during distinct time periods and assess their possible effects on nearshore morphology change. This could lead to a better understanding of the long-term mechanisms responsible for coastal zone evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]