Hydrodynamics and morphodynamics of a seasonally forced tidal inlet system

Tidal inlets along the central coast of Vietnam are highly dynamic and variable under the influence of seasonal climatic regime. The strong episodic processes of river flow and wave action cause the inlet morphologies to be changed frequently and unpredictable. Despite the interests and research on tidal inlets have been growing in recent decades, the mechanisms behind morphodynamics and behaviours of tidal inlets located in tropical monsoon areas with strong episodic river flow influences are still poorly understood. Effective engineering solutions for the inlets could not be found without understandings of the physical processes underlying the morphodynamics and behaviours of the inlets. This research work focuses on the hydrodynamics and morphodynamics of a tidal inlet system located on a microtidal wave dominated coast in the region. Further insights into the morphodynamics and behaviour of the inlet system has been gained in the present study based on the analyses observed data and numerical model simulation to address the role and the influence of each physical process on the morphology and the behaviour of the inlets. Although the study is focused on a specific tidal inlet system, the principles, approaches and some results of the study may be applied to, or at least, give a hint for other inlets in the regionHydraulic EngineeringCivil Engineering and Geoscience