Morphological equilibrium of short channels dissecting the tidal flats of coastal lagoons

Research reveals that tidal channels within coastal lagoons, such as those in Venice's Lagoon, exhibit a consistent morphological equilibrium shaped by tidal amplitude, channel convergence, and critical erosion/deposition velocities. The study derives an analytical solution for the bed profile of these channels, demonstrating that inertia, friction effects, and overtides contribute minor corrections. The findings suggest universal relationships linking channel depth or length to tidal dynamics, with nearly constant-depth channels forming under strong convergence. Additionally, the study confirms a power-law relationship between channel cross-section and tidal prism, aligning theoretical predictions with observed bed configurations in Venice's Lagoon.

Toffolon, M., & Lanzoni, S. (2010). Morphological equilibrium of short channels dissecting the tidal flats of coastal lagoons. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, 115(F4). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1029/2010jf001673