Francesca Ribas Prats

Km-scale shoreline sand waves in the Western Mediterranean Sea

A number of morphodynamic models have been developed to simulate the dynamics of large-scale bedform patterns on the continental shelf. Most of the models are based on linear stability analysis and, therefore, only describe the characteristics of the bedforms at their formation. Apart from studying the principal formation mechanism, the models have take into account various processes (three dimensional flows, sediment sorting, wave stirring, different tidal constituents, etc) to describe the characteristics of the bedforms at specific locations. Exploration of the finite amplitude regime have also been made with simplified models. Future model developments are needed to explore long-term dynamics.Multibeam data processing is essential for bedform mapping because the resulting bathymetric map is the basis for the characterization of bedforms and for further analysis and interpretations. The existence of a large amount of spatial data in general and swath bathymetry data in particular requires the creation of metadata and spatial data services that should make it possible to find, view and download data in order to share them at various levels, meeting international standards following the INSPIRE Directive (2007).A number of morphodynamic models have been developed to simulate the dynamics of large-scale bedform patterns on the continental shelf. Most of the models are based on linear stability analysis and, therefore, only describe the characteristics of the bedforms at their formation. Apart from studying the principal formation mechanism, the models have take into account various processes (three dimensional flows, sediment sorting, wave stirring, different tidal constituents, etc) to describe the characteristics of the bedforms at specific locations. Exploration of the finite amplitude regime have also been made with simplified models. Future model developments are needed to explore long-term dynamics.

Km-scale shoreline sand waves

A number of morphodynamic models have been developed to simulate the dynamics of large-scale bedform patterns on the continental shelf. Most of the models are based on linear stability analysis and, therefore, only describe the characteristics of the bedforms at their formation. Apart from studying the principal formation mechanism, the models have take into account various processes (three dimensional flows, sediment sorting, wave stirring, different tidal constituents, etc) to describe the characteristics of the bedforms at specific locations. Exploration of the finite amplitude regime have also been made with simplified models. Future model developments are needed to explore long-term dynamics.Multibeam data processing is essential for bedform mapping because the resulting bathymetric map is the basis for the characterization of bedforms and for further analysis and interpretations. The existence of a large amount of spatial data in general and swath bathymetry data in particular requires the creation of metadata and spatial data services that should make it possible to find, view and download data in order to share them at various levels, meeting international standards following the INSPIRE Directive (2007).A number of morphodynamic models have been developed to simulate the dynamics of large-scale bedform patterns on the continental shelf. Most of the models are based on linear stability analysis and, therefore, only describe the characteristics of the bedforms at their formation. Apart from studying the principal formation mechanism, the models have take into account various processes (three dimensional flows, sediment sorting, wave stirring, different tidal constituents, etc) to describe the characteristics of the bedforms at specific locations. Exploration of the finite amplitude regime have also been made with simplified models. Future model developments are needed to explore long-term dynamics.