Effects of Fallen Posidonia Oceanica Seagrass Leaves on Wave Energy at Sandy Beaches
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Posidonia Oceanica (PO) is an endemic marine plant in the Mediterranean Sea. In an experimental study conducted in the Eastern Mediterranean, the effects of natural PO leaves on reducing the height of incident waves impacting a beach were measured. The transmission coefficient (Kt) was found to vary between 0.73 and 0.94, which is equivalent to a wave height decay of 6–27%. The results show that in their natural environment, free-floating dead PO leaves dissipate incoming wave energy and have the capacity to protect beaches against erosion. Further analysis in separate frequency bands showed that waves with periods between 4.5–6.2 s were more sensitive to PO leaves in terms of energy dissipation. The transmission coefficient for medium-period waves, calculated using the medium-frequency part of the wave spectrum, delivered a maximum transmission coefficient of 0.5, corresponding to a 50% decay in wave height due to PO leaves.
Source: Water
DOI: 10.3390/w16162261
Authors: Ogan Sevim, Emre N. Otay
Institution: Boğaziçi University
Language: English
Topic: Coastal and Marine Dynamics
Subfield: Earth-Surface Processes
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life below water
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,955
OpenAlex ID: W4401513264