WAVE ATTENUATION OF SALTMARSH VEGETATION UNDER STORM CONDITIONS

Nature-based solutions (NbS) for coastal protection has recently gained increased attention worldwide as a sustainable, economical and eco-friendly alternative to conventional grey structures, particularly under the threat of climate change (Temmerman et al. 2013). Wave energy dissipation by vegetation can be parameterized total horizontal force acting on plant; expressed using Morison-type equation considering only form drag component (Dalrymple 1984). Modelling wave-vegetation interaction is challenging in laboratory environment (Lara 2016) it difficult accomplish realistic representation plant’s biomechanical behavior geometry plant mimics or surrogates. Few studies have modelled real saltmarsh large scale facilities (Moller 2014; Maza 2015) quantified wave attenuation, engineered living shorelines (Maryland DoE, Further research needed, Canadian context, investigate capacity different species effectively attenuate waves runup storm conditions, examine coefficient bridge gap develop technical design specifications detailed shorelines.