Vol. 3 No. 2 (2025): Journal of Water Resources Management
Articles

Impact of Extreme River Discharge and Sea Level Rise on Estuarine Morphodynamics: A Numerical Modeling Approach

PDF
  • Shahirah Hayati Mohd Salleh,
  • Wan Hanna Melini Wan Mohtar,
  • Khairul Nizam Abdul Maulud,
  • Nuryazmeen Farhan Haron
Shahirah Hayati Mohd Salleh
Jabatan Kejuruteraan Awam dan Struktur, Fakulti Kejuruteraan dan Alam Bina, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan
Wan Hanna Melini Wan Mohtar
1 Jabatan Kejuruteraan Awam dan Struktur, Fakulti Kejuruteraan dan Alam Bina, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, MALAYSIA 2 Environmental Management Center, Institute of Climate Change, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, MALAYSIA
Khairul Nizam Abdul Maulud
1 Jabatan Kejuruteraan Awam dan Struktur, Fakulti Kejuruteraan dan Alam Bina, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, MALAYSIA 3 Institut Pusat Perubahan Iklim, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, MALAYSIA
Nuryazmeen Farhan Haron
4 School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, MALAYSIA

Published 24-12-2025

Keywords

  • Estuarine morphology,
  • Hydrodynamic modeling,
  • Extreme river discharge,
  • Sea level rise,
  • Compound event

How to Cite

Mohd Salleh, S. H., Wan Mohtar, W. H. M., Abdul Maulud, K. N., & Haron, N. F. (2025). Impact of Extreme River Discharge and Sea Level Rise on Estuarine Morphodynamics: A Numerical Modeling Approach. Journal of Water Resources Management, 3(2). Retrieved from https://journal.water.gov.my/index.php/jowrm/article/view/104

Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Water Resources Management

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Abstract

Estuaries are dynamic and critical ecosystems governed by complex interactions between oceanic, fluvial, and atmospheric processes. Understanding the impact of extreme climate events on estuarine morphology is crucial for sustainable coastal management. This study integrates TELEMAC2D and SISYPHE numerical models to analyze hydrodynamic and sediment transport responses under three scenarios: (i) extreme river discharge, (ii) a 19 cm sea level rise (SLR), and (iii) a combination of both. Results indicate that extreme river discharge significantly enhances flow velocity, increasing by 125% to 184%, with peak velocity effects extending up to 4.71Lm times the estuary mouth width (Lm), leading to substantial morphodynamic changes. In contrast, the 19 cm SLR scenario reduces flow velocity by 8.30% to 26%, yet still influences estuarine morphology. The combined scenario demonstrates that extreme river discharge dominates over SLR in shaping estuarine bed morphology. These findings underscore the importance of integrating extreme climate scenarios into estuarine management strategies to mitigate long-term environmental risks. This study provides crucial insights for coastal engineers and policymakers in enhancing estuarine resilience amidst climate change. 

PDF