Field-based numerical model investigation of wave propagation across marshes in the Chesapeake Bay under storm conditions

Garzon, Juan L.; Miesse, T. W.; Ferreira, Celso M.

doi:10.1016/j.coastaleng.2018.11.001

Cited by 29 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 24 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Natural coastal areas, such as saltmarshes, can attenuate the impact of coastal storms on hard structural flood defenses, reducing their building and maintenance cost (Sutton-Grier et al, 2015;Vuik et al, 2016). Several studies have already demonstrated the ability of these natural solutions to efficiently attenuate storm surge, wave energy, and current velocities (Costanza et al, 2008;Garzon et al, 2019;Glass et al, 2017;Maza et al, 2015;Mendez & Losada, 2004;Möller et al, 2014;Möller & Spencer, 2002;Nepf, 2004;Resio & Westerink, 2008). Furthermore, these ecosystems continuously provide (not only during storm events) many cobenefits in addition to wave protection services, including water quality improvements, sediment budget, carbon sequestration and storage, fishery habitat, and opportunities for tourism, recreation, education, and research (Barbier et al, 2011;Castagno et al, 2018;Donatelli et al, 2018;Sutton-Grier et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wave Attenuation by Spartina Saltmarshes in the Chesapeake Bay Under Storm Surge Conditions

et al. 2019

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study investigates the capacity of a Spartina alterniflora meadow to attenuate waves during storm events based on field observations in the Chesapeake Bay. These observations reveal that environmental conditions including the ratio between water depth and plant height (hr), the ratio between wave height (HS) and water depth, and current directions impact the wave height decay. Further, we present empirical representations of the bulk drag coefficient (Cd) as a function of the Keulegan‐Carpenter (KC) and Reynolds (Re) numbers, and the hr ratio. When applying the distinction between current directions, this representation exhibits better agreement when using the Re (ρ2 = 54%) and hr (ρ2 = 77%) than with the KC (ρ2 = 39%). Furthermore, we show that the representation of Cd can be improved by using a hr‐based modified Re and KC formulation, yielding correlations of 76% (modified Re) and 78% (modified KC). The proposed expressions are validated during another storm and predicted HS computed within the marsh results in a root‐mean‐square error of 0.014 m, overestimating the largest HS (0.22 m) by 18%. Finally, these expressions are applied to several hypothetical sea conditions. Under similar vegetation characteristics, HS of 1.55 and 0.8 m (close to a 10,000‐ and 100‐year recurrence interval storm) are attenuated by 50% and 70%, respectively, at 250 m from the marsh edge. This study provides evidence that validates the saltmarsh wave attenuation capacity during storms, quantifies this attenuation, and supports the transferability of the existing formulas in the literature across similar coastal marshes.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wave Attenuation by Spartina Saltmarshes in the Chesapeake Bay Under Storm Surge Conditions

et al. 2019

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Individual plants are represented by cylinders, and the size, density and drag properties of these cylinders can be adapted to the stem height, diameter, density and stiffness of the plant species studied. After calibration of the bulk drag coefficient, the extended XBeach model can adequately predict wave attenuation (van Rooijen et al 2016;Garzon et al 2019aGarzon et al , 2019b.…”

Section: Modelling the Potential Influence Of Real Vegetation Characteristics On Wave Height With Xbeachmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monitoring Impact of Salt-Marsh Vegetation Characteristics on Sedimentation: an Outlook for Nature-Based Flood Protection

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Salt marshes can protect coastlines against flooding by attenuating wave energy and enhancing shoreline stabilization. However, salt-marsh functioning is threatened by human influences and sea level rise. Although it is known that protection services are mediated by vegetation, little is known about the role of vegetation structure in salt-marsh accretion. We investigated the role of vegetation presence, vegetation type and structural vegetation characteristics in sedimentation and sediment grain size. We established 56 plots on a salt marsh on the Dutch Wadden island of Texel. Plots were divided over four vegetation types contrasting in vegetation structure and varied in elevation and distance to creeks. Vegetation presence was controlled by clipping in subplots. Within each plot, we measured seven vegetation characteristics, sedimentation and the sediment grain size distribution. Furthermore, we explored the effect of the natural variation in vegetation structure on wave attenuation with a simple model approach. For this, we developed vegetation scenarios based on the field measurements of stem height, diameter and density. We found that vegetation presence increased sedimentation on average by 42%. Sedimentation was highest in Salicornia vegetation and increased with stem height and branching level. Grain size also seemed to increase with branching level. Modelled wave attenuation was 7.5 times higher with natural vegetation compared to topography only, was strongest for Spartina vegetation and most sensitive to the natural variance in stem density. Our results can be used to improve predictions of salt-marsh accretion and the implementation of salt marshes in nature-based flood defences.

show abstract

“…Although the representation of vegetated canopies through these frictional parameters, especially Manning's n, is considered as a suitable practice for modeling storm surge in coastal landscape [15,35,69,70], they do not explicitly account for vegetation heights, density or diameter. It is also essential to include wave dissipation and attenuation by vegetation in the modeling approach [20,21] for better representation of the interactions between storm waves and wetlands. However, improvement of model parameters and processes is beyond the scope of our study.…”

Section: Coupled Storm Surge and Waves Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The global loss in coastal wetlands may reach 44% by 2080 due to one meter of SLR and human interventions for residential purpose [13], or as high as 78% by 2100, with 1.1 meters of SLR and maximum coastal dike construction [14]. The loss in coastal wetlands may worsen the issue of coastal flooding, as these natural habitats can reduce the impacts of flooding by attenuating storm surge [15][16][17][18], mitigating wave energy [19][20][21], and stabilizing shorelines [22]. However, the capacity to reduce flooding impacts varies with the coastal landscape [15], vegetation characteristics [23,24], and soil properties [25].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Valuing natural habitats for enhancing coastal resilience: Wetlands reduce property damage from storm surge and sea level rise

2020

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Storm surge and sea level rise (SLR) are affecting coastal communities, properties, and ecosystems. While coastal ecosystems, such as wetlands and marshes, have the capacity to reduce the impacts of storm surge and coastal flooding, the increasing rate of SLR can induce the transformation and migration of these natural habitats. In this study, we combined coastal storm surge modeling and economic analysis to evaluate the role of natural habitats in coastal flood protection. We focused on a selected cross-section of three coastal counties in New Jersey adjacent to the Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve (JCNERR) that is protected by wetlands and marshes. The coupled coastal hydrodynamic and wave models, ADCIRC+SWAN, were applied to simulate flooding from historical and synthetic storms in the Mid-Atlantic US for current and future SLR scenarios. The Sea Level Affecting Marshes Model (SLAMM) was used to project the potential migration and habitat transformation in coastal marshes due to SLR in the year 2050. Furthermore, a counterfactual land cover approach, in which marshes are converted to open water in the model, was implemented for each storm scenario in the present and the future to estimate the amount of flooding that is avoided due to the presence of natural habitats and the subsequent reduction in residential property damage. The results indicate that this salt marshes can reduce up to 14% of both the flood depth and property damage during relatively low intensity storm events, demonstrating the efficacy of natural flood protection for recurrent storm events. Monetarily, this translates to the avoidance of up to $13.1 and $32.1 million in residential property damage in the selected coastal counties during the '50-year storm' simulation and hurricane Sandy under current sea level conditions, and in the year '2050 SLR scenario', respectively. This research suggests that protecting and preserving natural habitats can contribute to enhance coastal resilience.

show abstract

Field-based numerical model investigation of wave propagation across marshes in the Chesapeake Bay under storm conditions

Cited by 29 publications

References 24 publications

Wave Attenuation by Spartina Saltmarshes in the Chesapeake Bay Under Storm Surge Conditions

Wave Attenuation by Spartina Saltmarshes in the Chesapeake Bay Under Storm Surge Conditions

Monitoring Impact of Salt-Marsh Vegetation Characteristics on Sedimentation: an Outlook for Nature-Based Flood Protection

Valuing natural habitats for enhancing coastal resilience: Wetlands reduce property damage from storm surge and sea level rise

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About