Mesoscale model for morphologic change at tidal inlets

A mesoscale modeling system (time step of hours, space step of 100 m) for b athymetric change at tidal inlets is described. The Mesoscale Inlet Morphol ogy modeling system is composed of a linked two-dimensional (depth-integrat ed) hydrodynamic module, a wave transformation module, a shoreline change m odule, and a sediment transport module. A hybrid modeling scheme is employe d, featuring a microscale (time steps of minutes) hydrodynamic module withi n a mesoscale model. Sediment transport is assumed to be as bed load outsid e of the surf zone, driven by the mean wave- and tide-induced flow. The Mes oscale Inlet Morphology modeling system was applied to Price Inlet, S.C. A two-year simulation of the morphologic changes at Price Inlet was performed using measured wave data and tidal stages predicted from harmonic analysis coefficients, and results compared to measured bathymetric and shoreline c hanges. Predicted bathymetric changes are similar in sign and location to o bservations, but the model tends to underpredict the magnitude of the chang es. Predicted shoreline changes exhibit similar trends.