Morphodynamic relationships for ebb and flood delta volumes at Florida’s tidal entrances

Tidal entrances constitute an important boundary condition for the coastal ocean regime. Based on data from 67 sandy entrances in Florida, morphodynamic relationships between tidal prism, entrance throat area, and ebb and flood delta volumes are revisited. The main source of sand in these deltas is the littoral zone as opposed to the river. It is found that, as a rule of thumb, the volume of a mature ebb delta is equal to one fifth of the prism at the spring range of tide. Data for the coasts of Florida taken together indicate that the volume of mature flood delta varies with one third power of the prism. The Atlantic Coast flood delta volumes by themselves do not show any correlation with the prism, presumably because entrance depths have been altered by dredging. A case study of the closure of a land barrier breach at Matanzas Inlet illustrates the application of the derived morphodynamic relationships between prism, throat area, and ebb delta volume. These relationships are useful for prediction of changes in the throat area and the ebb delta volume when morphologic changes occur over time scales consistent with the reestablishment of equilibrium. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]