Tide-dominated
Tide dominated environments include:
- Coastal water bodies that are partially enclosed by topography, yet have a free connection to the sea.
- Coast lines that have a tidal range of greater than one meter.
- Areas in which the water run-off volume is low relative to the tidal volume or impact.
In general, the greater the tidal range the greater the maximum flow strength. Cross-stratification in tidal-dominated areas can lead to the formation of Herringbone cross-stratification.
Although the flow direction reverses regularly, the flow patterns of flood on ebb currents commonly do not coincide. Consequently the water and transport sediment may follow a roundabout route in and out of the estuary. This leads to spatially varied systems where some parts of the estuary are flood dominated and other parts are ebb dominated. The temporal and spatial variability of flow and sediment transport, coupled with regular fluctuating water levels creates a variety of bed form morphology.
Read more about this topic: Cross-bedding, Environments