Laboratory observations on the effects of cyclic relative mean sea level variations on tidal networks

Channel networks are widespread morphological features of tidal systems that exert a strong control on hydrodynamics, sediment dynamics and nutrient circulations within intertidal habitats. Improving our understanding of the chief processes driving their ontogeny and long-term evolution is a very important and timely issue related to the conservation of tidal systems, which are currently exposed to climatic changes and human pressures. On the basis of laboratory experiments carried out in a synthetic lagoonal environment, here we explore the response of tidal networks to cyclic variations in relative mean sea level triggering tidal prism changes.