Modeling future cliff-front waves during sea level rise and implications for coastal cliff retreat rates
Matsumoto, H.; Dickson, M.E.; Stephenson, W.J.; Thompson, C.F.; Young, A.P. (2024). Modeling future cliff-front waves during sea level rise and implications for coastal cliff retreat rates. NPG Scientific Reports 14(1): 7810. https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-57923-0
In: Scientific Reports (Nature Publishing Group). Nature Publishing Group: London. ISSN 2045-2322; e-ISSN 2045-2322, more
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| Authors | | Top |
- Matsumoto, H.
- Dickson, M.E.
- Stephenson, W.J.
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- Thompson, C.F.
- Young, A.P.
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| Abstract |
It is often assumed that future coastal cliff retreat rates will accelerate as global sea level rises, but few studies have investigated how SLR (sea level rise) might change cliff-front wave dynamics. Using a new simple numerical model, this study simulates the number and type (breaking, broken, or unbroken) of cliff-front waves under future SLR scenarios. Previous research shows breaking waves deliver more energy to cliffs than broken waves, and unbroken waves generate minimal impact. Here, we investigated six cliff-platform profiles from three regions (USA, New Zealand, and UK) with varied tidal ranges and wave climates. Model inputs included 2013–2100 hindcast/forecast incident wave height and tidal water level, and three future SLR scenarios. Results show the number of both cliff-front breaking and broken waves generally increase for a high-elevation (relative to tide) cliff-platform junction. In contrast, breaking/broken wave occurrence decrease by 38–92% for a near-horizontal shore platform with a low-elevation cliff-platform junction under a high SRL scenario, leading to high (96–97%) unbroken wave occurrence. Overall, results suggest the response of cliff-front waves to future SLR is complex and depends on shore platform geometries and SLR scenarios, indicating that future cliff retreat rates may not homogeneously accelerate under SLR. |
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