Validating storm threshold using a single Environmental Parameter: The case of Cadiz coast

Evaluation of threshold values for initiation of certain processes has always been a point of interest for scientists. However, validation of the results and estimation of the margins of error is rarely applied. In this study an attempt to validate the results of beach erosion and inundation thresho...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of coastal research 2011-01, Vol.SI (64), p.1876-1880
Main Authors: Plomaritis, T.A., Del Río, L., Benavente, J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Barometric pressure
Beach erosion
Beaches
Coastal erosion
Coastal zone management
Coastlines
Impact of Extreme Storms
Mathematical models
Parametrization
Sea level
Sea level changes
Storms
Thresholds
Wind tides
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Summary:Evaluation of threshold values for initiation of certain processes has always been a point of interest for scientists. However, validation of the results and estimation of the margins of error is rarely applied. In this study an attempt to validate the results of beach erosion and inundation thresholds is being undertaken in the urban beaches of the city of Cadiz with the use of field data and numerical modelling. The processes that contribute to sea level variation on the coast during a storm are the: (i) tidal variation; (ii) mean sea level changes due to variations in atmospheric pressure fields (inverse barometer effect); (iii) wind setup and (iv) wave setup and run-up of both incident and infragravity waves. These processes were parameterized in order to estimate the sea-level variability over the coastline for Atlantic storm events. All parameterizations were based on relationships between the sea level variation and significant wave height. The benefit of correlating all processes with a single variable is the potential to derive a simple index of possible coastal risks that can be easily evaluated and reviewed, thus simplifying the decision- making procedure. The results were compared with specific events measured in the City of Cadiz and the effect of the error margin was estimated and discussed. A good agreement between estimated and measured/modelled values was observed for all events. The larger percentage error was due to the surge parameterization. Wave run-up values obtained by Holman 1986 proved to be a good estimator of the upper limit of beach change.
ISSN:0749-0208
1551-5036