Coastal Hazards Management

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Oceans and Coastal Zones".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2021) | Viewed by 28187

Special Issue Editor

Washington Sea Grant, Olymp Peninsula Field Off, Port Angeles, WA 98362, USA
Interests: coastal hazards; sea level; coastal geomorphology; sediment transport; biophysical interactions; dam removal

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Just a few months ago, Ehud Galiili from the University of Haifa published a description of the Tel Hriez sea-wall, a 7000-year-old structure built to protect a settlement along the coast of what is now Israel. The paper was striking for a variety of reasons. First, it brought to mind the adage that “the ocean giveth, and the ocean taketh away”; human history and human settlement are bound to the ocean, yet the Tel Hriez sea-wall is another reminder that the ocean is not, and has never been, an easy neighbor. Next, the Tel Hriez sea-wall was built in an era in which sea level was rising and now sits at a depth of approximately 3 meters, serving as another striking reminder that managing hazards such as flooding and erosion in our era of climate change will surely be a challenge marked by some failure. Finally, for those of us that dedicate our time to studying and managing coastal hazards, the Tel Hriez sea-wall is a clarion call: we must bring to bear the best of international scientific and technical collaboration to the problem of preparing for coastal hazards. Our coastal communities deserve this from us.  

This Special Issue, focused on coastal hazards management, will help us to do that by compiling descriptions of innovations from around the globe in the field of managing coastal hazards such as flooding and erosion. In particular, we seek submissions focused on (1) attributing climate change to extreme coastal hazards events; (2) case studies exploring novel or low-cost risk reduction practices or those based on traditional knowledge; (3) examples of approaches for managing coastal hazards, particularly defensive approaches, that minimize the loss of ecological services; and (4) approaches for or case studies describing the application of modeling or technical analysis in community-scale coastal hazards planning processes.

Dr. Ian Miller
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • coastal hazards
  • coastal management
  • erosion
  • coastal flooding
  • risk reduction
  • ecosystem services

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 2265 KiB  
Article
Tourism Adaptation to Coastal Risks: A Socio-Spatial Analysis of the Magdalen Islands in Québec, Canada
by Dominic Lapointe, Luc Renaud and Mathias Emmett Blanchard
Water 2021, 13(17), 2410; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13172410 - 02 Sep 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2994
Abstract
Coastal tourism is one of the most important segments of the tourism industry but is facing major impacts of climate change. In light of these impacts, the infrastructure enabling coastal tourism activities needs to be adapted. It is through the production of a [...] Read more.
Coastal tourism is one of the most important segments of the tourism industry but is facing major impacts of climate change. In light of these impacts, the infrastructure enabling coastal tourism activities needs to be adapted. It is through the production of a space framework inspired by the work of Henri Lefebvre that we will reveal how a tourism space is socially constructing its own adaptation process. Using a case study methodology, we will examine the case of the Magdalen Island Archipelago in Québec, Canada, and pinpoint the subcase of La Grave. The case study will show how tourism is adding value to land dynamics to justify major adaptation work on the shore in order to protect the capital accumulation capacities of the tourism space. These justifications are buttressed by discourses of heritage and economic impacts to validate proceeding with a form of spatial reordering that privileges certain spaces while potentially leaving out others. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coastal Hazards Management)
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15 pages, 5424 KiB  
Article
Flood Inundation Analysis in Penang Island (Malaysia) Based on InSAR Maps of Land Subsidence and Local Sea Level Scenarios
by Guosheng Gao, Lim Hwee San and Yidan Zhu
Water 2021, 13(11), 1518; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13111518 - 28 May 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5622
Abstract
Penang Island is an important economic center in Malaysia and most of its population live in the coastal areas. Although previous studies have shown that it is vulnerable to rising sea levels, the combination of sea-level rise and local land subsidence would be devastating. [...] Read more.
Penang Island is an important economic center in Malaysia and most of its population live in the coastal areas. Although previous studies have shown that it is vulnerable to rising sea levels, the combination of sea-level rise and local land subsidence would be devastating. Therefore, the objective of this study is to apply the local land subsidence model to estimate the inundated areas which relate to sea level rise by 2100. Land subsidence is quantified by the SBAS-InSAR technique on the basis of Sentinel-1 radar images for both ascending and descending tracks. For the first time, the geostatistical analyst method is used to merge the different track results and create the land subsidence models, the results show this method can maximize land deformation fields and minimize deformation errors. According to the land deformation results, all of the coastlines in the east of the island have differing medium levels of subsidence, especially in reclaimed lands and building areas. Lastly, the bathtub model is used to quantify the inundated areas by combing regional sea-level rise projection and local land subsidence models under CoastalDEM in 2100 projections. The results of this study indicate land subsidence that would increase 2.0% and 5.9% of the inundated area based on the different scenarios by 2100 projections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coastal Hazards Management)
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11 pages, 12570 KiB  
Article
A Predictive Model for Estimating Damage from Wind Waves during Coastal Storms
by Yeon Moon Choo, Kun Hak Chun, Hae Seong Jeon and Sang Bo Sim
Water 2021, 13(9), 1322; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13091322 - 10 May 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1919
Abstract
In recent years, climate abnormalities have been observed globally. Consequently, the scale and size of natural disasters, such as typhoons, wind wave, heavy snow, downpours, and storms, have increased. However, compared to other disasters, predicting the timing, location and severity of damages associated [...] Read more.
In recent years, climate abnormalities have been observed globally. Consequently, the scale and size of natural disasters, such as typhoons, wind wave, heavy snow, downpours, and storms, have increased. However, compared to other disasters, predicting the timing, location and severity of damages associated with typhoons and other extreme wind wave events is difficult. Accurately predicting the damage extent can reduce the damage scale by facilitating a speedy response. Therefore, in this study, a model to estimate the cost of damages associated with wind waves and their impacts during coastal storms was developed for the Republic of Korea. The history of wind wave and typhoon damages for coastal areas in Korea was collected from the disaster annual report (1991–2020), and the damage cost was converted such that it reflected the inflation rate as in 2020. Furthermore, data on ocean meteorological factors were collected for the events of wind wave and typhoon damages. Using logistic and linear regression, a wind wave damage prediction model reflecting the coastal regional characteristics based on 74 regions nationwide was developed. This prediction model enabled damage forecasting and can be utilized for improving the law and policy in disaster management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coastal Hazards Management)
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18 pages, 7828 KiB  
Article
An Assessment of Vertical Land Movement to Support Coastal Hazards Planning in Washington State
by Tyler J. Newton, Ray Weldon, Ian M. Miller, David Schmidt, Guillaume Mauger, Harriet Morgan and Eric Grossman
Water 2021, 13(3), 281; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13030281 - 24 Jan 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4461
Abstract
The sea and land change elevation spatially and temporally from a multitude of processes, so it is necessary to constrain the movement of both to evaluate how coastlines will evolve and how those evolving coastlines will impact the natural and built environment over [...] Read more.
The sea and land change elevation spatially and temporally from a multitude of processes, so it is necessary to constrain the movement of both to evaluate how coastlines will evolve and how those evolving coastlines will impact the natural and built environment over time. We combine land movement observations from global navigation satellite systems (GNSSs), leveling of geodetic monuments, and tide gauge records with a tectonic model of the Cascadia subduction zone to constrain absolute rates of vertical land movement in coastal Washington. We infer rates of vertical land movement in areas lacking direct observations by interpolating high-quality land movement observations and a discretely sampled interseismic locking model. Here we present a model of absolute vertical land movement that is combined with sea level rise estimates to inform local relative sea level projections on a community-scale. The most rapid vertical uplift (~3.5 mm/year) of the land is found across the northwest Olympic Peninsula, which currently outpaces sea level rise. Conversely, some areas, including a stretch of the northern Pacific Ocean coast from La Push to Kalaloch and the southern Puget Sound, are found to be subsiding at 0.5–1.0 mm/year, exacerbating the rate of relative sea level rise and thereby increasing the vulnerability of coastal communities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coastal Hazards Management)
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16 pages, 1892 KiB  
Article
The Role of Traditional Knowledge in Coastal Adaptation Priorities: The Pamunkey Indian Reservation
by Nicole S. Hutton and Thomas R. Allen
Water 2020, 12(12), 3548; https://doi.org/10.3390/w12123548 - 17 Dec 2020
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3457
Abstract
Coastal reservations are increasingly vulnerable to hazards exacerbated by climate change. Resources for restoration projects are limited. Storm surge, storms, tidal flooding, and erosion endanger artifacts and limit livelihoods of tribes in coastal Virginia. GIS offers a platform to increase communication between scientists, [...] Read more.
Coastal reservations are increasingly vulnerable to hazards exacerbated by climate change. Resources for restoration projects are limited. Storm surge, storms, tidal flooding, and erosion endanger artifacts and limit livelihoods of tribes in coastal Virginia. GIS offers a platform to increase communication between scientists, planners, and indigenous groups. The Pamunkey Indian Tribe engaged in a participatory mapping exercise to assess the role of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) in coastal management decision-making and its capacity to address flooding. Priorities and strategies were spatially referenced using maps of potential sea level rise for 2040, 2060, and 2080, input into a resilience matrix to identify benchmarks for each phase of disaster resilience building, and contextualized with oral histories. Results highlight increased immediacy to protect housing and heritage sites along the shoreline as well as maintain access to the Reservation. Preferences toward structural solutions guided by and facilitating TEK options were expressed. Additional community capacities, tribal council support, federal assistance, impact assessments, and coordination would facilitate risk reduction project implementation. The screening process integrates TEK with planning and is transferable to neighboring tribes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coastal Hazards Management)
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26 pages, 9141 KiB  
Article
Hydrodynamic and Waves Response during Storm Surges on the Southern Brazilian Coast: A Hindcast Study
by Andre de Souza de Lima, Arslaan Khalid, Tyler Will Miesse, Felicio Cassalho, Celso Ferreira, Marinez Eymael Garcia Scherer and Jarbas Bonetti
Water 2020, 12(12), 3538; https://doi.org/10.3390/w12123538 - 16 Dec 2020
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2862
Abstract
The Southern Brazilian Coast is highly susceptible to storm surges that often lead to coastal flooding and erosive processes, significantly impacting coastal communities. In addition, climate change is expected to result in expressive increases in wave heights due to more intense and frequent [...] Read more.
The Southern Brazilian Coast is highly susceptible to storm surges that often lead to coastal flooding and erosive processes, significantly impacting coastal communities. In addition, climate change is expected to result in expressive increases in wave heights due to more intense and frequent storms, which, in conjunction with sea-level rise (SLR), has the potential to exacerbate the impact of storm surges on coastal communities. The ability to predict and simulate such events provides a powerful tool for coastal risk reduction and adaptation. In this context, this study aims to investigate how accurately storm surge events can be simulated in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean employing the coupled ADCIRC+SWAN hydrodynamic and phase-averaged wave numerical modeling framework given the significant data scarcity constraints of the region. The model’s total water level (TWL) and significant wave height (Hs) outputs, driven by different sources of meteorological forcing, i.e., the Fifth Generation of ECMWF Atmospheric Reanalysis (ERA 5), the Climate Forecast System Version 2 (CFSv2), and the Global Forecast System (GFS), were validated for three recent storm events that affected the coast (2016, 2017, and 2019). In order to assess the potentially increasing storm surge impacts due to sea-level rise, a case study was implemented to locally evaluate the modeling approach using the most accurate model setup for two 2100 SLR projections (RCP 4.5 and 8.5). Despite a TWL underestimation in all sets of simulations, the CFSv2 model stood out as the most consistent meteorological forcing for the hindcasting of the storm surge and waves in the numerical model, with an RMSE range varying from 0.19 m to 0.37 m, and an RMSE of 0.56 m for Hs during the most significant event. ERA5 was highlighted as the second most accurate meteorological forcing, while adequately simulating the peak timings. The SLR study case demonstrated a possible increase of up to 82% in the TWL during the same event. Despite the limitations imposed by the lack of continuous and densely distributed observational data, as well as up to date topobathymetric datasets, the proposed framework was capable of expanding TWL and Hs information, previously available for a handful of gauge stations, to a spatially distributed and temporally unlimited scale. This more comprehensive understanding of such extreme events represents valuable knowledge for the potential implementation of more adequate coastal management and engineering practices for the Brazilian coastal zone, especially under changing climate conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coastal Hazards Management)
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21 pages, 8296 KiB  
Article
Hydrodynamic and Wave Responses During Storm Surges on the Southern Brazilian Coast: A Real-Time Forecast System
by Arslaan Khalid, Andre de Souza de Lima, Felicio Cassalho, Tyler Miesse and Celso Ferreira
Water 2020, 12(12), 3397; https://doi.org/10.3390/w12123397 - 02 Dec 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2731
Abstract
Coastal flooding is a global phenomenon that results in severe economic losses, threatens lives, and impacts coastal communities worldwide. While recent developments in real-time flood forecasting systems provide crucial information to support coastal communities during coastal disasters, there remains a challenge to implement [...] Read more.
Coastal flooding is a global phenomenon that results in severe economic losses, threatens lives, and impacts coastal communities worldwide. While recent developments in real-time flood forecasting systems provide crucial information to support coastal communities during coastal disasters, there remains a challenge to implement such systems in data-poor regions. This study demonstrates an operational real-time coupled surge wave guidance system for the coastal areas of Southern Brazil. This system is based on the recently developed integrated flood (iFLOOD) model, which utilizes the coupled hydrodynamic and phase-averaged ADCIRC–SWAN wave numerical model, driven by astronomical tides and atmospheric forcing from the Global Forecast System (GFS). This numerical modeling framework can simulate water levels and waves with a lead time of 84 h. A version of the coupled ADCIRC–SWAN model calibrated for Brazil, i.e., iFLOOD-Brazil, was operationally implemented (i.e., twice a day) over a period of 4 months (April to September 2020) for normal daily weather validation, as well as during a recent “bomb” cyclone that strongly impacted the southern coast of the country in June 2020. The real-time water levels and waves forecasted by iFLOOD-Brazil showed promising results against observations, with root mean square error (RMSE) values of 0.32 m and 0.68 m, respectively, for normal daily weather. Additionally, the RMSE values were 0.23 m for water levels and 1.55 m for waves during extreme weather, averaged over eight water level and two wave recording stations. In order to improve real-time predictions, a bias correction scheme was introduced and was shown to improve the water level and wave forecasts by removing the known systematic errors resulting from underestimation of astronomical tides and inadequate initial boundary conditions. The bias-corrected forecasts showed significant improvements in forecasted wave heights (0.47 m, 0.35 m) and water levels (0.17 m, 0.28 m) during daily and extreme weather conditions. The real-time iFLOOD-Brazil forecast system is the first step toward developing an accurate prediction model to support effective emergency management actions, storm mitigation, and planning in order to protect these economically valuable and socially vulnerable coastal areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coastal Hazards Management)
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15 pages, 8792 KiB  
Article
Study on Storm Surge Using Parametric Model with Geographical Characteristics
by Yeon-joong Kim, Tea-woo Kim and Jong-sung Yoon
Water 2020, 12(8), 2251; https://doi.org/10.3390/w12082251 - 11 Aug 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2895
Abstract
The coastal area of Japan has been damaged yearly by storm surges and flooding disasters in the past, including those associated with typhoons. In addition, the scale of damage is increasing rapidly due to the changing global climate and environment. As disasters due [...] Read more.
The coastal area of Japan has been damaged yearly by storm surges and flooding disasters in the past, including those associated with typhoons. In addition, the scale of damage is increasing rapidly due to the changing global climate and environment. As disasters due to storm surges become increasingly unpredictable, more measures should be taken to prevent serious damage and casualties. The Japanese government published a hazard map manual in 2015 and obligates the creation of a hazard map based on a parametric model as a measure to reduce high-scale storm surges. Parametric model (typhoon model) accounting for the topographical influences of the surroundings is essential for calculating the wind field of a typhoon. In particular, it is necessary to calculate the wind field using a parametric model in order to simulate a virtual typhoon (the largest typhoon) and to improve the reproducibility. Therefore, in this study, the aim was to establish a hazard map by assuming storm surges of the largest scale and to propose a parametric model that considers the changing shape of typhoons due to topography. The main objectives of this study were to analyze the characteristics of typhoons due to pass through Japan, to develop a parametric model using a combination of Holland’s and Myers’s models that is appropriate for the largest scale of typhoon, and to analyze the parameters of Holland’s model using grid point values (GPVs). Finally, we aimed to propose a method that considers the changing shape of typhoons due to topography. The modeling outcomes of tide levels and storm surge heights show that the reproduced results obtained by the analysis method proposed in this study are more accurate than those obtained using GPVs. In addition, the reproducibility of the proposed model was evaluated showing the high and excellent reproducibility of storm surge height according to the geographic characteristics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coastal Hazards Management)
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