TY - JOUR

T1 - The impact of sea-level rise on tidal characteristics around Australia

AU - Harker, Alexander

AU - Green, Mattias

AU - Schindelegger, Michael

AU - Wilmes, Sophie-Berenice

PY - 2019/2/19

Y1 - 2019/2/19

N2 - An established tidal model, validated for presentday conditions, is used to investigate the effect of large levels of sea-level rise (SLR) on tidal characteristics around Australasia. SLR is implemented through a uniform depth increase across the model domain, with a comparison between the implementation of coastal defences or allowing low-lying land to flood. The complex spatial response of the semi-diurnal M2 constituent does not appear to be linearwiththeimposedSLR.Themostpredominantfeaturesof thisresponsearethegenerationofnewamphidromicsystems within the Gulf of Carpentaria and large-amplitude changes in the Arafura Sea, to the north of Australia, and within embayments along Australia’s north-west coast. Dissipation from M2 notably decreases along north-west Australia but is enhanced around New Zealand and the island chains to the north. The diurnal constituent, K1, is found to decrease in amplitude in the Gulf of Carpentaria when flooding is allowed. Coastal flooding has a profound impact on the response of tidal amplitudes to SLR by creating local regions of increased tidal dissipation and altering the coastal topography. Our results also highlight the necessity for regional models to use correct open boundary conditions reflecting the global tidal changes in response to SLR

AB - An established tidal model, validated for presentday conditions, is used to investigate the effect of large levels of sea-level rise (SLR) on tidal characteristics around Australasia. SLR is implemented through a uniform depth increase across the model domain, with a comparison between the implementation of coastal defences or allowing low-lying land to flood. The complex spatial response of the semi-diurnal M2 constituent does not appear to be linearwiththeimposedSLR.Themostpredominantfeaturesof thisresponsearethegenerationofnewamphidromicsystems within the Gulf of Carpentaria and large-amplitude changes in the Arafura Sea, to the north of Australia, and within embayments along Australia’s north-west coast. Dissipation from M2 notably decreases along north-west Australia but is enhanced around New Zealand and the island chains to the north. The diurnal constituent, K1, is found to decrease in amplitude in the Gulf of Carpentaria when flooding is allowed. Coastal flooding has a profound impact on the response of tidal amplitudes to SLR by creating local regions of increased tidal dissipation and altering the coastal topography. Our results also highlight the necessity for regional models to use correct open boundary conditions reflecting the global tidal changes in response to SLR

U2 - 10.5194/os-2018-104

DO - 10.5194/os-2018-104

M3 - Article

VL - 15

SP - 147

EP - 159

JO - Ocean Science

JF - Ocean Science

SN - 1812-0784

IS - 1

ER -