Computer Models of Delta Growth due to Sediment Input from Rivers and Longshore Transport

Research Article| July 01, 1973 Computer Models of Delta Growth due to Sediment Input from Rivers and Longshore Transport PAUL D. KOMAR PAUL D. KOMAR 1School of Oceanography, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar GSA Bulletin (1973) 84 (7): 2217–2226. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1973)84<2217:CMODGD>2.0.CO;2 Article history first online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation PAUL D. KOMAR; Computer Models of Delta Growth due to Sediment Input from Rivers and Longshore Transport. GSA Bulletin 1973;; 84 (7): 2217–2226. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1973)84<2217:CMODGD>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Computer-simulation models are developed to investigate the growth and equilibrium shape of a river delta in which wave action is the dominant force in redistributing sands deposited at the river mouth. Common values of sediment supply by rivers are used, and known relations for sand transport along beaches are applied. Although of a preliminary nature, the models appear to yield reasonable comparisons with real beaches and delta shapes. The models indicate that the deltas quickly reach an equilibrium configuration in which the wave energy flux is just capable of transporting and redistributing along the shore all the sand supplied by the river. The wave breaker angle decreases systematically along the delta away from the river mouth due to a progressive decrease in the quantity of river sand remaining to be transported (with increasing distance from the river mouth an increasing proportion of the river sand has already been deposited). When the wave energy flux is low or the river sediment supply too high for the existing waves nearly all the sand remains near the river mouth, producing one distributary which, if duplicated, would form a bird-foot delta. Oblique wave approaches produced asymmetric deltas but the asymmetry was not as pronounced as anticipated. The application of such simulation models to real case studies of shoreline alteration, natural or man-made, is also discussed. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.