Coral Reef Geometry and Hydrodynamics in Beach Erosion Control in North Quintana Roo, Mexico

Abstract

Coral reefs are increasingly recognized for their shoreline protection services. The hydrodynamic performance of this ecosystem is comparable to artificial low-crested structures often used in coastal protection, whose objective is to emulate the former. Coral reefs also provide other important environmental services (e.g., food production, habitat provision, maintenance of biodiversity and social and cultural services) and leave almost no ecological footprint when conservation and restoration actions are conducted to maintain their coastal protection service. However, studies have focused on their flood protection service, but few have evaluated the morphological effects of coral reefs through their ability to avoid or mitigate coastal erosion. In this paper, we investigate the relation between shoreline change, reefs’ geometry and hydrodynamic parameters to elucidate the physics related to how the Mesoamerican Reef in Mexico protects sandy coastlines from erosion. Using numerical wave propagation and historical shoreline change calculated from satellite imagery, a direct correlation was found between shoreline movement, the depths and widths of reef flats, changes in the wave energy flux, and the radiation stresses of breaking waves. The findings indicate that the most remarkable efficacy in preventing beach erosion is due to reefs with shallow crests, wide reef flats, a dissipative lagoon seabed, located at ∼300 m from the coastline. The results provide essential insights for reef restoration projects focused on erosion mitigation and designing artificial reefs in microtidal sandy beaches. Results are limited to wave-dominated coasts.

Coral restoration for coastal resilience: Integrating ecology, hydrodynamics, and engineering at multiple scales

“…Coral reefs have the potential to work together with mangroves and seagrass beds to provide positive reciprocal interactions for wave attenuation (Gillis et al, 2014). In addition, coral reefs and coastal dune habitats work together to provide coastal protection for many reef-lined coasts (Reguero, Secaira, et al, 2019), and coral reefs can mitigate beach coastal erosion (Escudero et al, 2021). Although these seascape interactions affect the potential for reef restoration to contribute to coastal protection and adapt to changing climate conditions, there are as yet few examples of their application.…”

Optimizing Infragravity Wave Attenuation to Improve Coral Reef Restoration Design for Coastal Defense

“…Coastal hazards present a significant risk to their adjacent communities. Along tropical coastlines, coral reefs protect against flooding and erosion by efficiently dissipating incoming wave energy before it reaches shore [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. Globally, thousands of reef-lined tropical coastlines are threatened by pressures such as climate change, sea-level rise, and coral degradation [10].…”

Beyond the Beach: Multi-Parameter Interpretation of Shore Deterioration in a Caribbean Reef System

“…In the absence of previous beach profile information, the analysis of historical satellite imagery may offer an adequate substitute for defining shoreline evolution, data extremely useful for quantifying historical erosion/accretion rates [24]. Key parameters used as indicators of the conservation state of the coast should also include spatial and temporal data about adjacent marine ecosystems, such as seagrass beds or coral reefs, due to their relationship and connectivity with the shore [10,14,25].…”