A simulation investigation into the effects of sea level rise on tidal propagation in fjords

Senior thesis written for Oceanography 445

[author abstract] Sea level rise projected to occur in the 21st century will undoubtedly influence coastal marine environments, although the exact effects are unknown. A two-dimensional numerical simulation model of tidal circulation is used to investigate the impacts of sea level rise on a fjord in terms of the distribution of kinetic energy throughout said fjord. Sea level is altered over a number of separate simulations, and the kinetic energy output is examined as a measure of how fluid flow will change as a result of sea level variation. Kinetic energy was found to change most in shallow sill areas, whereas other areas such as the deeper body of the fjord and the shallow intertidal zones showed very little change in kinetic energy. Furthermore, some protruding headland-like coastal features were found to experience significant shifts in the amount of kinetic energy that they experience, which may cause increased erosion on their flanks and/or increased deposition on their heads.

University of Washington School of Oceanography