Based on model hindcasts of the bar cycle at two locations along the Dutch coast, the dominant processes and mechanisms that govern the bar amplitude growth and decay during net inter-annual offshore migration, the occurrence of bar switches and the inter-site differences in the bar cycle return period (Tr) are identified. Bar growth and decay are closely related to the wave-induced longshore current as it affects the distribution of the cross-shore sediment transport. The modelling results suggest that cross-shore processes may trigger a bar switch in the case of specific antecedent morphological configurations combined with storm conditions. The deceleration of the offshore migration rate as the bar moves to deeper water (the morphodynamic feedback loop) contrasts with the initial enhanced offshore migration behavior of the bar for steeper slopes. The bed slope in the barred zone is the most important parameter governing Tr.@en

Inter-annual bar dynamics may vary considerably across sites with very similar environmental settings. In particular, the variability of the bar cycle return period (Tr) may differ by a factor of 3 to 4. To date, data studies are only partially successful in explaining differences in Tr, establishing at best weak correlations to local environmental characteristics. Here, we use a process-based forward model to investigate the non-linear interactions between the hydrodynamic forcing and the morphodynamic profile response for two sites along the Dutch coast (Noordwijk and Egmond) that despite strong similarity in environmental conditions exhibit distinctly different Tr values. Our exploratory modeling enables a consistent investigation of the role of specific parameters at a level of detail that cannot be achieved from observations alone, and provides insights into the mechanisms that govern Tr. The results reveal that the bed slope in the barred zone is the most important parameter governing Tr. As a bar migrates further offshore, a steeper slope results in a stronger relative increase in the water depth above the bar crest which reduces wave breaking and in turn reduces the offshore migration rate. The deceleration of the offshore migration rate as the bar moves to deeper water—the morphodynamic feedback loop—contrasts with the initial enhanced offshore migration behavior of the bar. The initial behavior is determined by the intense wave breaking associated with the steeper profile slope. This explains the counter-intuitive observations at Egmond where Tr is significantly longer than at Noordwijk despite Egmond having the more energetic wave climate which typically reduces Tr.@en