Morphodynamic upscaling with the MORFAC approach: Dependencies and sensitivities

The recently developed Morphological Acceleration Factor (MORFAC) approach for morphodynamic upscaling enables numerical model simulations of coastal evolution at decadal to millennial time scales. Primarily due to the massive increase in modeling time scales it affords, the MORFAC approach is now s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Coastal engineering (Amsterdam) 2011-08, Vol.58 (8), p.806-811
Main Authors: Ranasinghe, Roshanka, Swinkels, Cilia, Luijendijk, Arjen, Roelvink, Dano, Bosboom, Judith, Stive, Marcel, Walstra, DirkJan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Coastal
Coastal engineering
Computer simulation
Criteria
Delft3D
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Evolution
Exact sciences and technology
Geomorphology, landform evolution
Long term coastal evolution
Marine and continental quaternary
Mathematical models
MORFAC
Morphodynamic modeling
State of the art
Surficial geology
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Summary:The recently developed Morphological Acceleration Factor (MORFAC) approach for morphodynamic upscaling enables numerical model simulations of coastal evolution at decadal to millennial time scales. Primarily due to the massive increase in modeling time scales it affords, the MORFAC approach is now standard in state-of-the-art commercially available coastal morphodynamic modeling suites. However, the general validity of the MORFAC concept for coastal applications has not yet been comprehensively investigated. Furthermore, a robust and objective method (as opposed to the subjective and inelegant trial and error method) for the a priori determination of the highest MORFAC that is suitable for a given simulation (i.e. critical MORFAC) does not currently exist. This communication presents some initial results of an ongoing, long-term study that attempts to rigorously and methodically investigate the limitations and strengths of the MORFAC approach. Based on the results of a strategically designed numerical modeling exercise using the morphodynamic model Delft3D, two main outcomes are presented. First, the main dependencies and sensitivities of the MORFAC approach to fundamental forcing conditions and model parameters are elucidated. Second, a criterion based on the Courant–Friedrichs–Levy ( CFL) condition for bed form propagation that maybe used as a guide to determine the critical MORFAC a priori is proposed.
ISSN:0378-3839
1872-7379
DOI:10.1016/j.coastaleng.2011.03.010