Advances in cross-shore profile characteristics and sediment sorting dynamics of tidal flats

The cross-shore profile shape and sediment sorting of tidal flats play an important role in the research of estuarine and coastal morphodynamics, and bear practical significance for maintaining biodiversity, exploring sedimentation history, and assessing the impacts of coastal engineering projects. This study reviews the advancements in the research of cross-shore profile shape and sediment sorting dynamics on intertidal flats in terms of field observation, theoretical analysis, as well as numerical modeling. The classic theoretical analytic solutions for tidal flat profiles are reviewed, and the mechanisms of the major governing factors, such as tidal current, wave, sediment characteristics, and supply, in addition to additional factors including vegetation, sea level rise, and reclamation project, are discussed. Several other scientific problems needed to be addressed are proposed, particularly tidal flat morphodynamic modeling and quantitative forecasting under the interaction and coupling of multiple factors, namely hydrodynamics, sediment dynamics, biological activities, and anthropogenic interventions.