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Wave attenuation over coastal salt marshes under storm surge conditions


Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Möller, I 
Kudella, M 
Rupprecht, F 
Paul, M 

Abstract

Coastal communities around the world face increasing risk from flooding as a result of rising sea level, increasing storminess, and land subsidence1–2. Salt marshes can act as natural buffer zones, providing protection from waves during storms3–7. However, the effectiveness of marshes in protecting the coastline during extreme events when water levels are at a maximum and waves are highest is poorly understood8,9. Here, we experimentally assess wave dissipation under storm surge conditions in a 300-meter-long wave flume tank that contains a transplanted section of natural salt marsh. We find that the presence of marsh vegetation causes considerable wave attenuation, even when water levels and waves are highest. From a comparison with experiments without vegetation, we estimate that up to 60% of observed wave reduction is attributed to vegetation. We also find that although waves progressively flatten and break vegetation stems and thereby reduce dissipation, the marsh substrate remained stable and resistant to surface erosion under all conditions. The effectiveness of storm wave dissipation and the resilience of tidal marshes even at extreme conditions suggests that salt marsh ecosystems can be a valuable component of coastal protection schemes.

Description

Keywords

37 Earth Sciences, 3709 Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience, Prevention

Journal Title

Nature Geoscience

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1752-0894
1752-0908

Volume Title

7

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Sponsorship
European Commission (261520)
Isaac Newton Trust (1135(s))