An analysis is proposed of the hydro-morphodynamic interactions evolving at the estuary of rivers debouching into microtidal environments. The aim of such analysis is twofold: i) to elucidate fundamental issues on the role played by different dynamics of different scales (from wind to infragravity waves, to storm surge), ii) to provide insight useful for the management and mitigation of floods of estuarine cities.
Largely relying on field observations but also on the available literature, an integrated modeling approach is promoted, which regards the estuary as part of one single physiographic unit, including both the river catchment and the contiguous coastal domains. This not only avoids fragmentation associated with distinct domains requiring different types of models and boundary conditions, but it also leads to significant improvements in the management of the risk of floods of estuarine cities. The increase in amplitude of dynamic forcing due to climate change (e.g. river flow rates, sea level rise, storminess, etc.) and their potential synchronicity are discussed in relation to this approach.