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Methods for Analysing Bedform Geometry and Dynamics

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Atlas of Bedforms in the Western Mediterranean

Abstract

Rhythmic bedforms of different spatial scales are common in the marine environment. In shallow seas, the monitoring of bedforms is important because changes in morphology may interfere with offshore infrastructure and navigation. In addition, investigating bedform dynamics improves our understanding of the processes that cause their behaviour. Quantified bedform characterization also contributes to the validation of morphodynamic models. Modern, high-precision and high-resolution bathymetric data enable the detailed analysis of bedforms. Several semi-automated methods (e.g. geostatistical and spectral techniques) have been developed to quantify the geometry (size and shape) and dynamics (growth, change in shape and migration) of subaqueous bedforms. An overview of these different approaches is given and differences in use and potential are described.

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Acknowledgments

This chapter was improved by the comments of Paul P.J. Egberts (TNO, Geological Survey of the Netherlands).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Geology and Geophysics, Deltares, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Thaiënne A. G. P. Van Dijk

  2. Department of Water Engineering and Management, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands

    Thaiënne A. G. P. Van Dijk

  3. Department of Geosciences and Remote Sensing, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands

    Roderik C. Lindenbergh

Authors
  1. Thaiënne A. G. P. Van Dijk
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  2. Roderik C. Lindenbergh
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thaiënne A. G. P. Van Dijk .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Geology, Institut de Ciences del Mar (ICM-CSIC) Marine Geology, Barcelona, Spain

    Jorge Guillén

  2. Corazón de María, Instituto Español de Oceanografia, Madrid, Spain

    Juan Acosta

  3. Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università "La Sapienza" Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Rome, Italy

    Francesco Latino Chiocci

  4. Geology-Physics, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar (CSIC) Geology-Physics, Barcelona, Spain

    Albert Palanques

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Van Dijk, T.A.G.P., Lindenbergh, R.C. (2017). Methods for Analysing Bedform Geometry and Dynamics. In: Guillén, J., Acosta, J., Chiocci, F., Palanques, A. (eds) Atlas of Bedforms in the Western Mediterranean. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33940-5_2

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