Modeling of Sediment Transport and Sand Bank Formation in a Macrotidal

A two-dimensional numerical model was applied to investigate the sediment transport and sand bank formation in a macrotidal sea, the Kyunggi and Asan Bays. The tidal residual currents show quite complex pattern including counter-rotating eddies off the northwestern corner of the Dugjeok Island that reflect the promontory effect. Complex residual eddies are also present off the coast of the Taeanbando and in the Asan Bay. Net sediment transport pattern shows that sandy sediments in the Kyunggi and Asan Bays are generally transported landward from the outer sea suggesting sediment trapping inside the bays. This phenomenon may be related to the formation and maintenance of numerous sand banks in this macrotidal sea. Alternate occurrences of deposition and erosion predicted from the numerical model along the coast of the Taeanbando with strong deposition on the southwestern part of the 'Jangansatoe'(JSB), a large sand ridge off the coast of the Taeanbando appear to reflect the loose connection of JSB, The 'Joongangcheontoe', a central sand bank (CSB) with the main axis in the NW-SE direction in the Asan Bay may undergo a modification with strong deposition along the northeastern flank. These results indicate that the sand banks are actively modified and maintained by the strong tidal currents in this shallow macrotidal sea.