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VERLOREVLEI RIVER ESTUARY: Hydrodynamics and mouth dynamics |
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Hydrodynamics | ||||
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The entire
channel is very shallow (about 0,5m deep), tending to inhibit free water
circulation. A natural obstruction at the mouth is a rocky sill topped
by a sand bar, above the normal reach of high tides. The sand-topping is
formed by a south going longshore current, in combination with frequent
onshore winds. |
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Mouth dynamics | ||||
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The two
types of wave-induced inshore currents, one north going and the other
southward, appear to keep a hydraulic and sedimentological
near-equilibrium at the beach. Consequently, provided the balance
(including source of sand) is not disturbed, a sufficient sand supply
from the beach will always tend to cober the rocky barrier at the mouth,
to such an extent that the mouth has little chance to remain open for
any appreciable length of time after breaching. |
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