Sand wave morphometrics the main channel of the outer tagus estuary

Abstract

The geometric characteristics of sand waves in the main channel of the outer Tagus estuary are investigated, using high-resolution surveys conducted in 2019 and 2020. The relationship between bedform height and spacing over a 1400 m transect, at ca. 20 m depth, is in good agreement with the global mean trend equation proposed by Flemming (1988). The consistent ebb-oriented asymmetry suggests that the direction of net sediment transport is seaward. The apparent direction of sand wave migration obtained from the comparison between surveys is more variable, but on average also ebb-oriented.