New understanding of a coastal erosion hotspot in a bimodal wave climate.

Abstract

In previous studies addressing coastal erosion hotspots, evidence is presented to demonstrate that geology and nearshore seabed features can exert control on local beach dynamics. In this study, an episodic coastal erosion hotspot at Thorpeness, UK is examined. Antecedent wave conditions and changes in incident wave characteristics resulting from interaction with the seabed geology and/or temporal changes in nearshore bathymetry are measured and modelled. Observations of changing sea bed features derived from radar measurements and results from numerical modelling demonstrate links between nearshore bathymetry and beach erosion events. The study examines also the conditions frequently experienced at the study site whereby persistent waves from a narrow sector reduce beach levels and modify the nearshore bathymetry in such a way that the impacts from storms from an opposing direction are larger than would normally be the case.