Increased coastal wave hazard generated by differential wind and wave direction in hyper-tidal estuaries

Lyddon, Charlotte E ORCID: 0000-0003-4254-3049, Brown, Jennifer M, Leonardi, Nicoletta and Plater, Andrew J ORCID: 0000-0001-7043-227X (2019) Increased coastal wave hazard generated by differential wind and wave direction in hyper-tidal estuaries. ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE, 220. pp. 131-141.

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Abstract

Wave overtopping and subsequent coastal flood hazard is strongly controlled by wind and water levels, and is especially critical in hyper-tidal estuaries where even small changes in wave heights can be catastrophic if they are concurrent with high spring tide. Wave hazard in estuaries is largely attributed to high amplitude shorter period, locally generated wind waves; while low amplitude longer period waves rarely impact low-lying coastal zones up-estuary. Here, the effect of wind and wave properties on up-estuary wave propagation and the sensitivity of significant wave height are investigated numerically along the shoreline of the Severn Estuary, southwest England, as an example. Representative values for wind speed and direction, wave height, period and direction are used to identify key combinations of factors that define the wave hazard generation. High amplitude, short period wind waves are sensitive to opposing winds, with a steepening effect that varies along the estuary shoreline, highlighting the effect of estuarine geometry on wave hazard. Low amplitude, long period wind waves respond with maximum variability in significant wave height to strong winds resulting in their propagation further up-estuary. Our results advance current understanding of the compound interaction between wind and waves, and identify critical conditions maximizing the hazard and hazard variability along the shoreline. The outcomes from this research can help to avoid economic losses from operational downtime in ports and harbors, inform sustainable coastal sea defense design and understand how wave hazard may vary under future climate due to changing storm tracks. Results can also be applied to the design of coastal infrastructure and facilitation of emergency response planning.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Delft3D, Estuarine dynamics, Hyper-tidal, Coastal wave hazard, Wave propagation, Wind wave properties
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	19 Mar 2019 09:05
Last Modified:	19 Jan 2023 00:56
DOI:	10.1016/j.ecss.2019.02.042
Open Access URL:	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2019.02.042
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3034463

Available Versions of this Item

• Increased coastal wave hazard generated by differential wind and wave direction in hyper-tidal estuaries. (deposited 13 Mar 2019 13:40)
  • Increased coastal wave hazard generated by differential wind and wave direction in hyper-tidal estuaries. (deposited 19 Mar 2019 09:05) [Currently Displayed]