Details
Original language | English |
---|---|
Article number | 104763 |
Journal | Coastal engineering |
Volume | 200 |
Early online date | 18 Apr 2025 |
Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 18 Apr 2025 |
Abstract
The transformation of the predominant biogenic structures in the Wadden Sea, from blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) beds to Pacific oyster (Magallana gigas) reefs, has increased their topographical roughness, impacting the wave-biogenic structure interactions. Despite the general knowledge of increased wave attenuation due to the ecological transformation, a detailed quantification of wave energy dissipation induced by both biogenic structures and a comprehensive understanding of the governing processes remain lacking. This study systematically investigates frictional wave energy dissipation of both biogenic structures by subjecting generic surrogate models to regular, non-breaking waves in reduced-scale wave flume experiments. The results reveal pronounced wave height reductions for both structures, with oyster reefs exhibiting approximately twice the frictional wave energy dissipation (wave friction factor fw,OR = 0.44 ± 0.30) of mussel beds (fw,MB = 0.21 ± 0.18). Comparing near-bed velocities with topographical roughness parameters identified mussel agglomerations governing the frictional wave energy dissipation in mussel beds and oyster shells in oyster reefs. In mussel beds, form drag dominates frictional resistance under moderate hydrodynamic conditions, whereas flow separation at high intensities substantially lowers the wave energy dissipation. Conversely, oyster reefs maintain wave energy dissipation across a broader hydrodynamic range due to the sharp-edged, rigid shells. The enhanced wave attenuation by oyster reefs and their expected long-term persistence in the Wadden Sea presents an opportunity to complement existing gray coastal protection infrastructure as a nature-based solution. The parameterization of frictional wave energy dissipation presented here enables more accurate hydro-morphodynamic modeling of large-scale sediment dynamics in such soft-bottom environments.
Keywords
- Bed roughness, Coastal habitats, Ecosystem engineer, Experimental modeling, Invasive species, Wave energy dissipation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Environmental Science(all)
- Environmental Engineering
- Engineering(all)
- Ocean Engineering
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In: Coastal engineering, Vol. 200, 104763, 15.07.2025.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Wave-induced hydrodynamics of biogenic structures in the central Wadden Sea
T2 - Implications of the transformation from mussel beds to oyster reefs for wave attenuation
AU - Hitzegrad, Jan
AU - Rentsch, Lisa
AU - Hoffmann, Tom K.
AU - Paul, Maike
AU - Windt, Christian
AU - Schlurmann, Torsten
AU - Goseberg, Nils
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Authors
PY - 2025/4/18
Y1 - 2025/4/18
N2 - The transformation of the predominant biogenic structures in the Wadden Sea, from blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) beds to Pacific oyster (Magallana gigas) reefs, has increased their topographical roughness, impacting the wave-biogenic structure interactions. Despite the general knowledge of increased wave attenuation due to the ecological transformation, a detailed quantification of wave energy dissipation induced by both biogenic structures and a comprehensive understanding of the governing processes remain lacking. This study systematically investigates frictional wave energy dissipation of both biogenic structures by subjecting generic surrogate models to regular, non-breaking waves in reduced-scale wave flume experiments. The results reveal pronounced wave height reductions for both structures, with oyster reefs exhibiting approximately twice the frictional wave energy dissipation (wave friction factor fw,OR = 0.44 ± 0.30) of mussel beds (fw,MB = 0.21 ± 0.18). Comparing near-bed velocities with topographical roughness parameters identified mussel agglomerations governing the frictional wave energy dissipation in mussel beds and oyster shells in oyster reefs. In mussel beds, form drag dominates frictional resistance under moderate hydrodynamic conditions, whereas flow separation at high intensities substantially lowers the wave energy dissipation. Conversely, oyster reefs maintain wave energy dissipation across a broader hydrodynamic range due to the sharp-edged, rigid shells. The enhanced wave attenuation by oyster reefs and their expected long-term persistence in the Wadden Sea presents an opportunity to complement existing gray coastal protection infrastructure as a nature-based solution. The parameterization of frictional wave energy dissipation presented here enables more accurate hydro-morphodynamic modeling of large-scale sediment dynamics in such soft-bottom environments.
AB - The transformation of the predominant biogenic structures in the Wadden Sea, from blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) beds to Pacific oyster (Magallana gigas) reefs, has increased their topographical roughness, impacting the wave-biogenic structure interactions. Despite the general knowledge of increased wave attenuation due to the ecological transformation, a detailed quantification of wave energy dissipation induced by both biogenic structures and a comprehensive understanding of the governing processes remain lacking. This study systematically investigates frictional wave energy dissipation of both biogenic structures by subjecting generic surrogate models to regular, non-breaking waves in reduced-scale wave flume experiments. The results reveal pronounced wave height reductions for both structures, with oyster reefs exhibiting approximately twice the frictional wave energy dissipation (wave friction factor fw,OR = 0.44 ± 0.30) of mussel beds (fw,MB = 0.21 ± 0.18). Comparing near-bed velocities with topographical roughness parameters identified mussel agglomerations governing the frictional wave energy dissipation in mussel beds and oyster shells in oyster reefs. In mussel beds, form drag dominates frictional resistance under moderate hydrodynamic conditions, whereas flow separation at high intensities substantially lowers the wave energy dissipation. Conversely, oyster reefs maintain wave energy dissipation across a broader hydrodynamic range due to the sharp-edged, rigid shells. The enhanced wave attenuation by oyster reefs and their expected long-term persistence in the Wadden Sea presents an opportunity to complement existing gray coastal protection infrastructure as a nature-based solution. The parameterization of frictional wave energy dissipation presented here enables more accurate hydro-morphodynamic modeling of large-scale sediment dynamics in such soft-bottom environments.
KW - Bed roughness
KW - Coastal habitats
KW - Ecosystem engineer
KW - Experimental modeling
KW - Invasive species
KW - Wave energy dissipation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105004002019&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.coastaleng.2025.104763
DO - 10.1016/j.coastaleng.2025.104763
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:105004002019
VL - 200
JO - Coastal engineering
JF - Coastal engineering
SN - 0378-3839
M1 - 104763
ER -