Tidal inlets became of significant importance in the past centuries. Most of them provide access to harbours being the main navigation route. The inlets are of great economical and environment value. Although this value, inlets are still a whole world to discover (Metha, 1996).
During this MSc research, the focus will be mainly on the Maumusson inlet in Western France. The Maumusson inlet provides refreshing of the Oleron bay's waters. The world famous oyster farming and other aquaculture states the Oleron bay of great value of the local community and economy. Because of this importance, the local university, Université La Rochelle, has been doing studies in their backyard for over a decade.
So far, the inlet has not been interrupted by any human activity, which makes the inlet even more interesting to investigate. Lately, the ebb delta of the inlet seems to be breached. Surer we can state that the main channel realigned and the ebb-delta changed recently. What used to be a Southward orientated main channel, has changed in a Northward orientated channel last year.
This alignment change is an ultimate possibility to investigate the impact of a realignment of a main channel and the change in ebb-delta on the adjacent coast. The thesis outline holds, a study on the cause of the realignment, quantifying causing dominant processes in the ebb-delta region, quantification of the alongshore sediment transport change and expectation in the nearby future.
Info:
