Sediment dynamics in the Meghna estuary, Bangladesh: A model study

A depth integrated two-dimensional numerical modeling was carried out to study the sediment dynamics within the Meghna estuary. The sediment-water dynamics within this estuary are very complex due to its irregular shape, wide seasonal variation, and the changing role of the tide. Both cohesive and noncohesive sediment transport formulations were used to estimate the total transport. An interactive morphological computation was also used to verify the bed level changes over 2 years. Sediment transports of both monsoon and dry seasons (the two most hydrologically pronounced periods in this region) were modeled, and a large seasonal variation in sediment transport pattern was observed. Land reclamation dams were tested by the model and found to be effective in enhancing the accretion in its vicinity.