Modelling Estuarine Morphodynamics on the South Coast of Ireland

Several important studies of coastal processes in Ireland exist, establishing the patterns of sea-level change, the impacts of storminess, erosion and sedimentation rates. Approximately half of Ireland's coastline is deemed sensitive to erosion under climate change. This paper presents work on the collection of field data and the setting up of a process-based model (Delft3D) to study morphological change in Courtmacsherry estuary on the southcoast of Ireland. Bathymetric and topographic surveys have been carried out and monitoring of the hydrodynamic and sediment transport regimes is being undertaken to validate and calibrate the models. Results from the hydrodynamic model simulations agree well with field measurements. The outputs from this modelling work shall be used to run an abstracted model (Asmita). Results from this study will be used to examine the drivers and processes responsible for changes occurring in Courtmacsherry and as example of estuarine-bay functioning in the region.