About this Research Topic
Estuaries and deltas are the most complex areas of the earth's dynamic system and the places where human exploitation and utilization of the ocean are relatively concentrated. Sediment dynamics in this area are extremely complex under the combined effects of tides and waves, human activities, and climate change. The dynamic behaviors of sediments in the estuaries and deltas are closely related not only to the long-distance transport of sediments and pollutants carried by rivers into the sea but also to the formation, occurrence, development, evaluation, and prediction of submarine geological disasters in these regions. With the rapid development of the estuarine delta, people pay much more attention to the study of geological hazards in the estuarine delta, and it has become a scientific problem that must be solved in the engineering construction of the estuarine delta. Therefore, sediment dynamics and geohazards in estuaries and deltas have important research significance and value.
Sediment dynamics in estuaries and deltas is a subject studying the dynamic changes of sediments under the influence of dynamic forces (e.g., wave and tide), gravity, and human activities, after being transported from the river and deposited at the estuarine area. These changes include sediment consolidation, liquefaction, erosion, resuspension, and transportation, as well as the dynamic changes of sediment composition, structure, physical, chemical, and mechanical properties, and geotechnical engineering properties. Sediment dynamics in estuaries and deltas is an important aspect of coastal zone studies and is one of the focus points of international concern. In addition, they are of prime importance to recognize and understand the distribution and formation mechanism of geohazards such as submarine landslides and coastal erosion but are inadequately involved in the previous sedimentary or coastal engineering studies.
The purpose of this Research Topic is to showcase studies from different disciplines and address the above concerns, to comprehensively clarify the sediment dynamic processes and responses associated with combined wave-current action and human engineering activities, and how these contribute to the physical, chemical, and engineering properties of marine sediments and distribution of geohazards in the estuaries and deltas. This topic welcomes all research papers and review papers related to sediment dynamics and geohazards. Especially welcome the in-depth study of representative sediment type in a certain sedimentary environment. We welcome submissions in the following themes, but not limited to:
• Dynamic processes of sediment consolidation, liquefaction, erosion, re-suspension, transportation, and re-deposition in different estuaries and deltas.
• Land-ocean interactions and the influences on the coastal sedimentary environment.
• Physical, chemical, and engineering properties of coastal and marine sediments.
• Numerical and observational techniques for the benthic boundary layer processes.
• Characteristics, triggering, and evolution mechanism of the shallow geohazards and seabed mobility.
• Risk prevention and control for coastal engineering and ocean engineering.
Keywords: Sediment dynamics, Sediment transport, Marine engineering geology, Marine geohazards, Estuaries and deltas, Geomorphology
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.