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Maintenance of headland-associated linear sandbanks: modelling the secondary flows and sediment transport

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Abstract

Linear sandbanks are located globally in areas where there are strong currents and an abundance of sand. In the recent years, these sandbanks have become of strategic interest as a potential source of marine aggregates (sand and gravel) and mineral deposits. They form the seaward boundary of the nearshore zone and therefore are important for the stability of the coastal system. They also commonly reach the sea surface and thus pose a threat to navigation. Headland-associated linear sandbanks are a specific type of sandbanks which are located in the lee of coastal topographic features such as headlands and islands. Interaction between tidal currents and topographic features generate complex three-dimensional circulation patterns that significantly influence the distribution of sediments in the vicinity of the feature. Field and numerical model investigations of the three-dimensional flow structure have been undertaken on the Levillain Shoal, a headland-associated linear sandbank present in the lee of Cape Levillain (Shark Bay, Western Australia). The field data indicated the presence of secondary flows near the tip of the cape and around the bank which were re-produced in the numerical simulations. Numerical results have shown that residual eddies are not representative of the sediment transport and that secondary currents enhance the convergence of sediment towards the sandbank. Maintenance processes have been investigated. Sediment transport paths near the cape and the bank indicate that the sandbank is part of a sand circulation cell where the sand is circulating around the bank with exchanges between the sandbank and the headland.

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Acknowledgements

This work was partially funded by the US Office of Naval Research (Award Number: N000140110368). The first author (A. B.) was supported during the study by an International Postgraduate Research Scholarship awarded by the University of Western Australia. This is contribution ED 1993 from the Centre for Water Research, University of Western Australia.

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  1. Centre for Water Research, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia

    Alexis Berthot & Charitha Pattiaratchi

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  1. Alexis Berthot
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  2. Charitha Pattiaratchi
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Correspondence to Alexis Berthot.

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Responsible Editor: Paulo Salles

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Berthot, A., Pattiaratchi, C. Maintenance of headland-associated linear sandbanks: modelling the secondary flows and sediment transport. Ocean Dynamics 55, 526–540 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10236-005-0010-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10236-005-0010-9

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