Comparison of storm cluster vs isolated event impacts on beach/dune morphodynamics

Dissanayake, Pushpa; Brown, Jennifer ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3894-4651; Wisse, Paul; Karunarathna, Harshinie. 2015 Comparison of storm cluster vs isolated event impacts on beach/dune morphodynamics. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 164. 301-312. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2015.07.040

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© 2015 Elsevier B.V. This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version has been published in Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science (doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2015.07.040)
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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2015.07.040

Abstract/Summary

Two-dimensional numerical simulations were used to investigate the impacts of storm clustering on the beach/dune evolution of the Sefton coast, Liverpool Bay, UK. A storm cluster consisting of a series of closely spaced seven events was identified using observed wave and surge data during the 2013/2014 winter period. First event in this cluster is regarded as exceptionally intense and the occurrence of seven storms within a very short time period, is unique. The XBeach coastal area model was used to simulate beach change from 1) the storm sequence (Clustered events) and 2) the same storms considering them as isolated events. Offshore metadata was transformed to the nearshore area using the Delft3D and SWAN models. Resulting evolution was first compared with the available post-storm profiles measured at a number of locations along the Sefton coast. Analysis of the Clustered and Isolated simulations showed the effect of clustering on the Sefton beach/dune system when compared to the impact of isolated events occurring on a fully recovered beach system. Morphological change occurred during each storm in the Cluster was influenced by the preceding storm(s), such that the evolution is not proportional to the storm power of the event, as it would be for Isolated events. Both storm cases resulted in heavy erosion at Formby Point (i.e. central of the Sefton coast) and accretion in the north and south. The Cluster prevented system recovery with the area of erosion continually extending south along the coast compared with that in Isolated events. The initial storm within the Cluster caused large bed level changes in the nearshore ridge-runnel system, enabling the subsequent storms to penetrate further south. The local convex geometry of the Sefton coast is found to have more influence on the beach/dune morphodynamics than the clustering effect. This study enhances the understanding beach/dune response to storm clusters, to interpret observed morphological changes and to develop tools for sustainable coastal management particularly in the Sefton coast and generally in similar systems worldwide.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2015.07.040
Programmes:	POL Programmes > Shallow coastal seas - function and impacts of change
ISSN:	0272-7714
Additional Keywords:	Storm cluster; Dune erosion; XBeach; Sefton coast; Liverpool Bay; Formby point
NORA Subject Terms:	Marine Sciences
Date made live:	26 Aug 2015 08:57 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/511664

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2015.07.040

Programmes:

POL Programmes > Shallow coastal seas - function and impacts of change

ISSN:

0272-7714

Additional Keywords:

Storm cluster; Dune erosion; XBeach; Sefton coast; Liverpool Bay; Formby point

NORA Subject Terms:

Marine Sciences