Mechanisms underlying the dynamic evolution of an open-coast tidal flat-creek system: Ⅲ: impact of sea level rise

To explore the influence of sea level rise on the evolution of tidal flat and tidal creek system, adistorted physical model was established, taking a silt-muddy tidal flat-creek system in the central Jiangsu coastas the prototype. Based on the model, a variety of parameters were analyzed to illustrate the properties of the creek system changed with the sea level rise, such as duration of submergence, drainage density, cross section profile of the tidal channel, etc. Results indicate that the elongation increases more rapid than the elaboration at the initial stage of the creek system development, but both approach a dynamic equilibrium ultimately. Under the pressure of sea level rise, the inundation period increases hence the exposure duration of the tidal flats decreases, resulting in reduced shaping effects of the shift return flow on the creek bottom. Both mean unchannelled length and Hortonian drainage length show a decreasing trend, indicating a higher drainage ability of the creek system. In addition, the width/depth ratio follows an approximate lognormal distribution. The cross-section area and the width/depth ratio increase with sea level rise, as well as the distribution range of the width/depth ratio.