EROSION PROGRESSION OF WOODED COASTAL DUNE

Abstract

Active plantation of woody plants over coastal sand dunes has been known to reduce the wave overtopping and overwash. In this study interactions among waves, sand dune and woody plants were investigated experimentally. Wooden plants were represented by cylindrical wooden dowels. Two tests were conducted to examine the placement density of the dowels. Additional two tests were conducted to examine the toppling effect of the dowels covering the dune. The measured data indicate that toppling of the dowels on the foreslope of the dune diminishes the effectiveness of the dowels in reducing dune erosion and overwash because the dowels on the foreslope reduced wave uprush and overtopping. The data collected in these experimental study were used to calibrate and verify the numerical model CSHORE.