Testing numerical models of coastal processes

This project used data collected in the field to test numerical models of the movement of water and sand / sediment that shapes coastlines.

From:
Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Research and Development Programme and Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Published
11 February 2021
Category:
Environmental management and sustainability
Topics:
Big data, Coast, Coastal erosion, Modelling, Natural capital, Understanding physical processes
Project status:
Completed
Project code:
FD0803
Date of completion:
31 March 2000

Documents

Field measurement of coastal dynamics - phase 3 report (41.5 KB) WORD

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Details

This project collected large-scale data from the field to test numerical models of coastal processes. It provided modelling tools and ways of managing the coastal zone. It aimed to improve understanding of the physical processes on coasts. This included enhancing the current numerical models of the movement of water and sand / sediment (hydrodynamics and morphodynamics).

It did this by:

  • improving understanding of the physics of how sand is transported around coasts and morphodynamics
  • providing data on sand transport and morphology suitable for testing numerical models of coastal processes at two contrasting sites
  • testing a representative sample of numerical models for predicting coastal sand transport and morphodynamics against this data
  • delivering tested modelling tools suitable for coastal zone management along with methodologies for its use

This project is linked to the EU MAST-3 COAST3D project led by HR Wallingford. It measures the way the seabed and beach have evolved at sites in Egmond, the Netherlands (1998) and Teignmouth, South Devon (1999) by looking at:

  • waves
  • currents
  • sediment transport

The COAST3D project, supported by the Environment Agency, demonstrated the advantages of collaborative EU research projects in knowledge transfer and access to data and research results.

This project ran from 1997 to 2000 at a cost of £311,014.

Published 11 February 2021