Dynamics of erosion and deposition events on an intertidal mudbank at Burringham, River Trent, UK

Measurements using an automatic bank level monitoring technique [the photoe lectronic erosion pin (PEEP) system] over a 70-day period between 16 March and 27 May 1997 have revealed a complex pattern of erosion and deposition o n an intertidal mudbank on the River Trent at Burringham. Comparison of mea n daily changes in bank elevation at upper and lower bank positions suggest that wave activity induced by high wind speeds causes erosion, while high tidal range leads to deposition as a result of higher suspended solids conc entrations. A greater variability in mean daily erosion and deposition even ts at the lower bank compared with the upper bank appears to indicate that higher bed shear stresses, as well as a greater availability of sediment fo r settling, owing to higher concentrations and a greater depth of water, le ad to a more dynamic exchange of material at this position. The PEEP data a lso show longer term trends in sedimentation, with the mean deposition for the period exceeding mean erosion. Manual erosion pin measurements at a low er frequency over a longer, seven-month period confirm this, and also highl ight the advantage of the PEEP system in monitoring events at a finer tempo ral resolution. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.