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Evolution and Morphodynamics of Danube Delta Shoreface

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Landform Dynamics and Evolution in Romania

Part of the book series: Springer Geography ((SPRINGERGEOGR))

Abstract

The present Danube Delta shoreface morphology (in terms of longshore variability of cross-shore profile shape and slope) and behaviour (sediment distribution and transport, depth changes) reside from the co-existence of different types of accretionary, stable and erosive sectors. This configuration is the result of various controlling factors: the long-term evolution of the delta and of each deltaic lobe, the up/downdrift distance to the river mouths, the position of each sector into a specific littoral cell (expressed in sediment availability), the angle made by shoreline with the incident waves and the presence of engineering structures. Shoreface evolution in the past 150 years is highly influenced by the Danube river sediment supply changes, as a consequence of human pressure, and, secondary, is a function of the climatic forcing (storminess) variability, while the inter-annual shoreface morphodynamics is mainly linked to wave energy fluctuations and river floods. The upper shoreface variability is controlled by the multi-annual nearshore sandbars net offshore migration. Intra-site differences in the cross-shore bar behaviour characteristics (both spatially and temporally), expressed by different bar behaviour on the sediment-rich accretionary sectors in comparison with the erosive ones, are the result of the coast(line) evolution and of the morphodynamic state of the beach. Their variability in terms of morphometric (sandbar volumes), geometric (time-averaged widths and depths of the bar zone) and morphodynamic parameters (offshore migration rates and cycle return periods) is related to the complex feed-backs between three key environmental factors: (i) shoreface morphology (i.e. nearshore slope), (ii) alongshore sediment availability and (iii) surf-zone hydrodynamics.

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Acknowledgements

Research activities were undertaken in the frame of Sfântu Gheorghe Marine and Fluvial Research Station, Faculty of Geography, University of Bucharest. We thank our colleague Dr. Ştefan Constantinescu who kindly provided us old maps and associated bathymetrical grids for the Danube Delta coast. FT was supported by the strategic grant POSDRU/159/1.5/S/133391.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Geography, University of Bucharest, 1st N. Bălcescu Blv., 010041, Sector 1, Bucharest, Romania

    Florin Tătui & Alfred Vespremeanu-Stroe

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  1. Florin Tătui
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  2. Alfred Vespremeanu-Stroe
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Correspondence to Florin Tătui .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Geography, Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, Suceava, Romania

    Maria Radoane

  2. Faculty of Geography, University of Bucharest Faculty of Geography, Bucharest, Romania

    Alfred Vespremeanu-Stroe

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Tătui, F., Vespremeanu-Stroe, A. (2017). Evolution and Morphodynamics of Danube Delta Shoreface. In: Radoane, M., Vespremeanu-Stroe, A. (eds) Landform Dynamics and Evolution in Romania. Springer Geography. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-32589-7_26

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