Physical Modelling of the Response of Non-Nourished and Nourished Beach Profiles to Storm Surge or Sea Level Rise

Abstract

Beach nourishment is a key strategy used to mitigate against the effects beach erosion under storm surge or sea level rise (SLR). Comparisons of different strategies are very difficult under field conditions. This paper presents the results of medium scale experiments that investigate the response of non-nourished and nourished beach profiles to water level rise, using three different nourishment strategies. The shoreline recession and profile response are compared to predictions from the Bruun rule (Bruun, 1962), recent modifications (Rosati et al., 2013) and a profile translation model that conserves the shape of the initial profile and the sediment volume.