Dune erosion
Definition of Dune erosion:
Dune erosion involves that, during a severe storm surge, sediments from the mainland and upper parts of the beach are eroded and settled at deeper water within a short time period; this is a typical cross-shore sediment transport process.
This is the common definition for Dune erosion, other definitions can be discussed in the article
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Dunes as sea defense
River and sea dikes are good examples of structures to protect low-lying areas from flooding. Also a dune area (dune row) serves that aim in some cases. E.g. the safety of large parts of The Netherlands, often with ground levels even below Mean Sea Level (MSL), relies on dikes, but also on dunes for their protection against flooding.
Visiting the beach and the coastal zone in e.g. The Netherlands under normal weather conditions would easily give the impression that the dunes are certainly strong enough to properly protect the hinterland. However, during a severe storm surge, with under design conditions water levels at sea which are approximately 5 - 6 m above MSL and together with the much more severe wave conditions than normal (cf. wave heights Hs ≈ 7 - 9 m and peak periods Tp ≈ 12 -18 s), the dunes will be eroded in a very short period of time.
Existing design rules in The Netherlands yield erosion rates of 80 - 100 m of the dunes during design storm conditions. (The rates of 80 - 100 m are given as an order of magnitude value only to facilitate the further discussion; the actual erosion rates under design conditions depend on the specific local conditions; e.g. shape of initial cross-shore profile and particle size of the dune material.) It must be realized that because of the specific Dutch conditions, the design conditions in The Netherlands are very strict.
Rather wide dune area is sea defense
See also
- Types and background of coastal erosion: article on the background of erosion, dune erosion and structural erosion (Jan van de Graaff is also planning to write a separate article on dune erosion).
- Natural Causes of Coastal Erosion: Effects of e.g. transport gradient, loss of sand, protruding areas, marine deposit shorelines, down stream erosion, sea level rise, subsidence and natural variation on coastal erosion.
Please note that others may also have edited the contents of this article.
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