Coastal Sand Dune Protection: Influence and Optimization of Vegetation Parameters
Abstract
Sand dunes protect coastal areas by absorbing wave energy generated by storms. However, during wave impact the dunes can be eroded heavily. Restoring native vegetation and placing plant biomass on dunes may decrease erosion by dissipating wave energy and adding substrate strength. This experiment tested this process by using various instruments such as capacitance wave gauges and Nortek Vectrino Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter (ADV) to measure the hydrodynamics associated with waves that hit a physical model of a coastline cross-section before and after the introduction of vegetation. Furthermore, this experiment tested different densities of plant material to determine the correlation between vegetation density and erosion reduction. The results of the experiment indicate that sparse, immature vegetation on dunes may increase erosion, but a significant increase in mature vegetation reduces erosion.
Subject
Ocean EngineeringOffshore and Coastal Systems Engineering
Maritime Systems Engineering
Sand Dunes
Coastal Engineering
Beach
Swash
Erosion
Citation
Power, Matthew J (2017). Coastal Sand Dune Protection: Influence and Optimization of Vegetation Parameters. Undergraduate Research Scholars Program. Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /157680.