Berm height at temporarily open/closed estuaries in South Africa: analysis and predictive methods
| dc.contributor.advisor | Theron, Andre Karl | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.author | Booysen, Zane | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.other | Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Civil Engineering. | en_ZA |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2017-11-21T04:35:30Z | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2017-12-11T10:55:52Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2017-11-21T04:35:30Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2017-12-11T10:55:52Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2017-12 | |
| dc.description | Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2017. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study investigates the berm crest elevation at South African Temporarily Open/Closed Estuaries (TOCE), as well as the processes involved in berm growth, and the drivers that contribute to variation in berm height among estuaries. The relationship between wave runup elevation and maximum berm height at estuaries is evaluated. Additionally, the study presents suitable methods for the prediction of berm height at South African TOCEs, given the limited data availability. TOCEs along the wave dominated coastline of South Africa are subject to frequent inlet closure. During inlet closure, the presence of the wave built sand barrier (berm) restricts tidal influx and temporarily prevents catchment runoff from reaching the sea. The elevation of the inlet berm dictates the peak flood level in the estuary. A comprehension of estuary mouth behaviour, specifically the berm building processes present after estuary closure, is of paramount importance for the efficient management of these systems. This includes knowledge and quantification of the berm building processes, potential berm height and berm height variability. The recorded berm crest elevations of twenty prominent TOCEs along the South African coastline are presented. Several years of berm/mouth survey data and estuary water levels have been analysed for the selected locations, resulting in an extensive record of historical berm crest elevations. This provides improved estimates of the probable berm height at these estuaries, especially compared to previous estimates typically based on limited survey data. The primary drivers responsible for high berms and variation in berm height among estuaries were identified, viz. median sediment grain size, beach face slope, nearshore wave height and nearshore Iribarren number. The relationship between the berm height at the selected estuaries and the relevant coastal parameters were assessed. The beach face slope and the nearshore Iribarren number have a significant influence on the maximum berm height, and adequately describe the variation in berm height among estuaries. A multi-criteria analysis – the Berm Crest Elevation Criteria – and corresponding linear regression model is developed to investigate the relative importance of the dominant coastal parameters on maximum berm height. Additionally, the Berm Crest Elevation criteria provides an accurate first estimate of the maximum berm crest elevation at other, less studied TOCEs, based on only a few coastal input parameters. The vertical extent of wave runup is assessed to determine the potential limit of berm accretion. Existing runup parameterisations are implemented to simulate several years of wave runup elevation at the selected estuaries, based on recorded sea levels and offshore wave data. The predicted wave runup elevation provides an accurate estimate of the long-term variation of estuarine berm height. The Stockdon et al. (2006) wave runup parameterisation provides superior performance across the entire range of estuaries. The occurrence probability of the simulated wave runup elevation records were assessed to further elucidate the probability of wave runup associated with maximum berm height at estuaries. The findings indicate that the maximum berm height can be predicted by the 5% exceedance probability of wave runup. A theoretical threshold of runup exceedance probability and associated berm response is presented. Additionally, a design scenario of wave runup is proposed to estimate the vertical extent of sediment deposition caused by wave runup. The design scenario is based on the 2% exceedance probability significant wave height, 50% exceedance probability peak wave period and Mean High Water Spring (MHWS) tidal elevation. Lastly, a berm growth model is presented to predict berm height/growth on a short-term time scale. The model provides an incremental prediction of the morphodynamic response of estuarine berms subjected to wave runup and overwash. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek die bermhoogtes by Suid-Afrikaanse strandmere met tydelike oop/geslote mondings, asook die bermvormingsprosesse en die faktore wat bydra tot die variasie in bermhoogtes tussen strandmere. Die verhouding tussen golfoploophoogte en die maksimum bermhoogte by strandmere word ook ondersoek. Verder bied die studie ook geskikte metodes vir die voorspelling van bermhoogte by Suid-Afrikaanse strandmere, gegewe die beperkte data beskikbaar. Tydelike oop/geslote strandmere langs die golf-energieke kuslyn van Suid-Afrika is onderhewig aan gereelde geslote mondtoestande. Tydens geslote mondtoestande beperk die golf-geboude sandberm die invloei van die gety en veroorsaak ’n tydelike versperring vir afloop vanaf die opvangsgebied. Die hoogte van die sandberm bepaal die piek watervlak in die strandmeer tydens vloede. ’n Begrip van die strandmeer mond-dinamika, veral die bermvormingsprosesse na mondsluiting, is uiters belangrik vir die effektiewe bestuur van hierdie stelsels. Dit sluit in die kennis en kwantifisering van die bermvormingsprosesse, asook die potensiële bermhoogte en bermveranderlikheid. The bermhoogtes van twintig prominente tydelike oop/geslote strandmere langs die Suid-Afrikaanse kuslyn word aangebied. Verskeie jare se mond/berm opmetings en strandmeer watervlak lesings is ontleed vir die geselekteerde strandmere. Die uitkoms van hierdie analise is ’n omvattende rekord van historiese bermhoogtes. Hierdie rekord verskaf ’n meer akkurate benadering van die maksimum potensiële bermhoogte by die geselekteerde strandmere, veral in vergelyking met vorige voorspellings wat tipies gebaseer was op beperkte opmetings. Die primêre drywers wat verantwoordelik is vir hoë berms en die variasie in bermhoogtes tussen strandmere is geïdentifiseer. Die primêre drywers sluit in: die mediaankorrelgrootte, strandhelling, golfhoogte en Iribarren getal. Die verhouding tussen bermhoogte by die geselekteerde strandmere en die relevante kus-parameters is geëvalueer. Die strandhelling en Iribarren getal wys die sterkste korrelasie met die bermhoogtes van die onderskeie strandmere. ’n Multi-kriteria-ontleding genaamd die Bermhoogtekriteria (“Berm Crest Elevation Criteria”) en ’n ooreenstemmende regressiemodel is ontwikkel om die gesamentlike effek en relatiewe belangrikheid van die oorheersende veranderlikes te ondersoek. Op grond van net ’n paar inset parameters kan die Bermhoogtekriteria ook gebruik word as ’n akkurate eerste benadering van die maksimum bermhoogte by Suid-Afrikaanse strandmere. Die hoogte van golfoploop is geëvalueer om die potensiële grens van berm-opbou vas te stel. Bestaande parametriese golfoploopmodelle is benut om verskeie jare se golfoploop te simuleer by die onderskeie strandmere. Die simulasies is gebaseer op gety- en golfopmetings naby die onderskeie strandmere. Die voorspelde golfoploop verskaf ’n akkurate benadering van die langtermyn variasie in strandmeer bermhoogte. Die Stockdon et al. (2006) golfoploopmodel voorsien die beste resultate vir al die strandmere en inset parameters. Die oorskrydingswaarskynlikheid van die gesimuleerde golfoploop rekords is geëvalueer. Die analise is gemik daarop om die oorskrydingswaarskynlikheid van golfoploophoogte wat geassosieer is met die maksimum bermhoogtes te bereken. Die resultate dui aan dat die maksimum bermhoogte voorspel kan word deur die 5% oorskrydingswaarskynlikheid van golfoploop. ’n Teoretiese drumpel van golfoploop oorskrydingswaarskynlikheid en ooreenstemmende bermverandering is voorgestel. ’n Ontwerpscenario van golfoploop is voorgestel om die vertikale omvang van sediment afsetting wat deur golfoploop gegenereer word te voorspel. Die ontwerpscenario is gebaseer op die 2% oorskrydingswaarskynlikheid golfhoogte, 50% oorskrydingswaarskynlikheid golfspitsperiode en die gemiddelde hoogwater springgety hoogte. Laastens is ’n bermgroeimodel voorgestel. Die model beoog om die korttermyn bermhoogte en groei by strandmere te voorspel deur gebruik te maak van ’n stapsgewyse golfoploop groeikoers. | af_ZA |
| dc.format.extent | 200 pages : illustrations | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/102800 | |
| dc.language.iso | en_ZA | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Estuaries -- Hydrodynamics | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Hydraulic structures | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Wave runup | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Embankments | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Overwash | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | UCTD | en_ZA |
| dc.title | Berm height at temporarily open/closed estuaries in South Africa: analysis and predictive methods | en_ZA |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_ZA |