Sediment dynamics in the macrotidal Avon River estuary, Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia
The Avon River estuary in central Nova Scotia is part of the northeastern arm of the Bay of Fundy. The estuary is macrotidal; tidal range is 15.6 m at lunar perigee. The large tidal range generates strong currents. Maximum current speeds increase from 0.6 m/s at the estuary mouth (seaward end) to 1.7 m/s at the estuary head (shoreward end). Every location in the system is either flood or ebb current dominant.There are six major intertidal sand bodies in the estuary. Three of these form an ebb tidal delta at the estuary mouth that resembles many mesotidal ebb tidal deltas. One of the sand bodies at the estuary head also is part of an ebb tidal delta, another is a flood tidal delta, and the third is a tidal point bar.Ripples, megaripples, and sand waves are the three major classes of bedforms. Flow regime increases in the onshore direction, and bed configuration reflects maximum flow conditions.Mean grain size decreases from the estuary mouth to the head, producing an inverse relationship between mean grain...