How well do you know your beach? Monitoring requirements for the application of shoreline modeling

KD Splinter, IL Turner, MA Davidson

Research output: Contribution to journalConference proceedings published in a journalpeer-review

Abstract

In the presence of variable wave climates and anticipated future changes to both the strength and direction of wave energy, the ability to predict how sandy coastlines will change is a necessary requirement for appropriate coastal management. Here we present a newly developed equilibrium shoreline model that is used to determine generic data sampling requirements for shoreline model calibration. The model has been evaluated at a number of sites in Australia and the US and results indicate that both the model equilibrium condition and data sampling requirements are a function of beach type. Storm-dominated beaches, where rapid exchange of sediment between the nearshore and shore face occur, have a short memory of prior beach state, and as a result require higher frequency sampling of the shoreline to capture the temporal variability and constrain the model. In contrast, more seasonally-dominated sites have a longer memory of past beach state and can be sampled less frequently as the exchange of sediment between the nearshore and shore face is less rapid and dominated by the seasonal variation in wave energy. Initial application at several sites indicates the model has good skill at hindcasting medium-term (3-6 years) shoreline behaviour, with highest model skill at open-ocean (exposed) straight coastlines, with strong seasonal behaviour. On this basis, guidelines for the design and implementation of shoreline monitoring programs within Australia are presented.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)709-714
Number of pages0
JournalCoasts and Ports 2013
Volume0
Issue number0
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2013

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