About Me
During my undergraduate studies, I studied Civil Engineering and graduated with a M.Sc. in "Water and Hydraulic Structure Engineering" in 2018. I have started my PhD in Marine and Fluvial Systems group at University of Twente in 2021.
Organisations
Research
Estuarine saltwater dynamics at floodgates and scour holes
Saltwater intrusion, which is defined as the movement of saline water into freshwater, widely occurs in estuarine areas and can be very problematic to local communities. Worldwide, there is an urgent need for accurate models for salt intrusion predictions since it is one of the most challenging and widespread environmental problems that threaten the quality and sustainability of freshwater resources.Salt intrusion can be aggravated by anthropogenic changes and human activities like building flood barriers on the mouth of a n estuary. Flood barrierscan restrict the free exchange of saltwater and freshwater in an estuary. These hydraulic structures also cause local flow acceleration and the formation of large-scale bed depressions that are also known as scour holes. Saltwater that has a higher density can accumulate in the scour holes and can potentially exacerbate the salinization of freshwater once it is entrained by tidal flow or wind and moves upstream. Therefore, understanding the role of anthropogenic changes on the severity and frequency of salt intrusion events is of high importance in order to get accurate forecasts.
The main objective of this research is to Investigate the accumulation and mixing processes of saltwater in scour holes and the effect of flow dynamics alteration due to floodgates on salt intrusion dynamics in an estuary. Understanding the detailed and local-scale physics of the interaction between hydrodynamics and bathymetry is crucial to accurately predict salt trapping and develop a parametrized 3D hydrostatic model.
Publications
Recent
Ebrahimierami, F.
, Kitsikoudis, V., Vermeulen, B.
, & Hulscher, S. J. M. H. (2023).
Observational study on mixing in a stratified scour hole due to the wind-driven lateral circulation in a semi-closed estuary. Abstract from EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria.
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-5369
Ebrahimierami, F.
, Kitsikoudis, V., Vermeulen, B.
, & Hulscher, S. J. M. H. (2023).
Field observations of turbulent flow patterns and salinity variations in stratified scour hole. Abstract from NCK-days 2023, Delft, Netherlands.
https://www.nck-web.org/boa-2023/657-field-observations-of-turbulent-flow-patterns-and-salinity-variations-in-stratified-scour-hole
Ebrahimierami, F.
, Kitsikoudis, V.
, Vermeulen, B.
, & Hulscher, S. J. M. H. (2021).
Observations and analysis of estuarine mixing dynamics influenced by floodgates and varying bathymetry. 1-1. Abstract from AGU Fall meeting 2021, New Orleans, United States.
Ebrahimierami, F.
, Kitsikoudis, V., Vermeulen, B.
, & Hulscher, S. J. M. H. (2021).
Salt accumulation at floodgates and salt-water intrusion in rivers. 88-89. Abstract from NCR Days 2021, Enschede, Netherlands.
Other Contributions
UT Research Information System
Google Scholar Link
Education
Assisting with the teaching of the following courses:
Current Projects
Contact Details
Visiting Address
University of Twente
Faculty of Engineering Technology
Horst Complex
(building no. 20), room W205
De Horst 2
7522LW Enschede
The Netherlands
Mailing Address
University of Twente
Faculty of Engineering Technology
Horst Complex
W205
P.O. Box 217
7500 AE Enschede
The Netherlands