Morphodynamic impacts of a tidal barrage in the Mersey Estuary

Abstract

This paper examines both the short and long-term impacts a tidal barrage has on sediment transport, under tidal conditions in the Mersey Estuary and Liverpool Bay, and hence morphological changes. The TELEMAC model suite is used for the numerical prediction, including the 2D hydrodynamic model (Telemac-2d) coupled with the sediment transport model (Sisyphe) and the wave propagation model (Tomawac). A new scheme has been developed to simulate the operation of a barrage within the estuary, with comprehensive hydrodynamic calibration using most recent field data. The preliminary model results indicate that the construction of a tidal barrage across the narrows of the Estuary for ebb mode energy generation significantly alters the natural movement of the tide: effectively reducing the tidal range and increasing the low water level upstream of the structure. Due to the strong flows in the vicinity of the barrage, increased erosion is expected in the narrows. Barrage operation procedures are predicted to alter the siltation rate under the complex spring-neap tidal cycle. Long-term changes due to the interaction of a barrage and tidal asymmetry are also under consideration with further examination of model results within both the Mersey and Dee Estuaries and outer Liverpool Ba

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Last time updated on 09/03/2012

This paper was published in NERC Open Research Archive.

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