Editorial: Innovations in coastal morphodynamic modeling

Résumé fourni par la source

Coastal morphodynamics involves the dynamics and morpho-sedimentary evolution of coastal systems such as beach-dune systems, river mouths, lagoons, and continental shelves (Bombino et al., 2022;D'Alessandro et al., 2022;Bosboom and Stive, 2023;Castelle and Masselink, 2023;Bombino et al., 2024;Cong et al., 2026;Hoagland et al., 2023;Cao et al., 2026;Lawson et al., 2026;Yang et al., 2026).The equilibrium conditions of these systems are increasingly altered by natural factors, anthropogenic pressure, and climate change, which can also contribute to rising sea levels and to the increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events (Samaras, 2023;Wright and Thom, 2023;Chatzipavlis and Simeone, 2026). Therefore, for effective planning and management of coastal areas, it is important to fully understand the morphodynamic processes (do Camo, 2017).From this point of view, modeling (physical, numerical, and composite) plays a key role as it allows for simulating major physical phenomena in the coastal region (Roelvink and Reniers, 2011;Deng and Yu, 2023;Reyns et al., 2026). Physical models refer to the use of laboratory models at an appropriate scale (micro, small, medium, and large-scale models) for investigating the relevant process (Yao et al., 2026;Wu et al., 2026); numerical models refer to the use of computer codes (commercial, open source, home-made software) (Dammak et al., 2026;Gutierrez et al., 2026); and composite models refer to the integrated and balanced use of physical and numerical models (Oubaki et al., 2025;Boodoo et al., 2026). Also, coastal morphodynamic modeling can be used to predict the short-term (hours to days), medium-term (weeks to months), and long-term (years to decades) evolution of coastal systems (de Melo et al., 2023;Cicek et al., 2026).Six original research papers have been published in this Research Topic. Below is a summary of the main objectives of each paper.Spiegel et al. ( 2024) used a machine-learning approach within R and RStudio software to quantify the spatial distribution of porosity, 210 Pb rain rates, and mass accumulation rates from multiple sample stations in the Skagerrak. Conventional methods for spatial upscaling involve averaging of data or spatial interpolation. However, these approaches may not be sufficiently precise to account for spatial variations of mass accumulation rates, leading to poorly constrained regional sediment budgets. The findings of this research can be used to validate ecosystem models and provide a knowledge basis for resource management plans. Furthermore, the presented machine learning method for spatial upscaling can be applied to other regions to gain insights into areawide distribution patterns.Liu et al. ( 2024) analyzed the decadal evolution of a sandy beach adjacent to a river mouth in Hainan Island, China, under natural drivers and human impacts. The study is of interest as it uses DSAS, ArcGIS, and MIKE21 software and performs detailed analyses including seasonal wave action, reduction in fluvial sediment load, sand spit and coastal structures, typhoon events, aeolian transport, and sea level rise, along with an assessment of the implications for coastal erosion management and future forecasting of the shorelines for the year 2034.show a new formula for determining the non-uniform suspended sediment-carrying capacity based on the statistical theory of sediment transport that was applied to a river network model dominating the tidal section of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, to simulate the non-uniform suspended sediment flowing into the Yangtze River Estuary. The findings of this research provide support for the simulation of non-uniform sediment entering the Yangtze River Estuary in the context of the operation of many cascade reservoirs in the upper Yangtze River and for measuring non-uniform sediment in tidal river sections.Yuan ( 2025) developed an improved wetting and drying algorithm for a hydrodynamic model with three-dimensional unstructured grids, based on a finite-volume/finite-difference Eulerian-Lagrangian hydrodynamic ELCIRC model (Zhang et al., 2004). The algorithm combines an inundation function, wet fraction of area, and wet fraction of side length to describe the changes of geometric parameters of partially wet elements with the moving wetting and drying front. This is a topic of great interest in many shallow water systems such as coastal wetlands. This research provides a new algorithm that can simulate high-order processes in a tidally influenced wetland system. Such simulations would not be possible with the traditional method, affected by numerical oscillations caused by the wetting and drying front movement.Alosairi et al. ( 2026) analyzed bed sediment dynamics and accumulation rates in the Northern Arabian Gulf through numerical modeling (using Delft3D-FM), radiometric dating, and field observation. The study area is an interesting case study due to complex sedimentary dynamics influenced by aeolian and fluvial inputs under highly variable hydrodynamic conditions. This research highlights the importance of combining field-based and numerical approaches to improve sediment transport predictions in arid coastal environments and provides critical insights for sediment management and coastal resilience, particularly in the context of climate change.Shi et al. (2026) carried out a numerical simulation of sediment transport characteristics under tidal action in the Qiantang estuary. Conventional numerical models for estuarine sediment transport neglect the density variation induced by hyperconcentrated sediment mixtures and the feedback effect of riverbed evolution on flow dynamics, which impairs the mass conservation properties of model systems. Thus, this study establishes a two-dimensional coupled flow-sediment numerical model for tidal estuarine systems and provides a theoretical reference for enriching sediment transport mechanisms in strong tidal estuaries and supporting practical estuarine regulation and management.The main aim of this Research Topic was to analyze the innovations in coastal morphodynamic modeling. This is a multidisciplinary topic due to the wide variety of factors, both natural and anthropogenic, that influence it. Indeed, published papers have implications not only for the hydroand morphodynamics of various coastal systems and their temporal evolution, but also for the ecosystems within them, and consider both extreme events and climate change. Therefore, this Research Topic has highlighted the growing importance of accurate modeling of coastal morphodynamics and has significantly contributed to scientific advancement in this complex field.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.