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Scientific support regarding hydrodynamics and sand transport in the coastal zone: hindcast of the morphological impact of the 5-6 December 2013 storm using XBeach
Lanckriet, T.; Trouw, K.; Zimmermann, N.; Wang, L.; De Maerschalck, B.; Delgado, R.; Verwaest, T.; Mostaert, F. (2015). Scientific support regarding hydrodynamics and sand transport in the coastal zone: hindcast of the morphological impact of the 5-6 December 2013 storm using XBeach. Version 4.0. WL Rapporten, 12_107. Flanders Hydraulics Research/IMDC: Antwerp. III, 36 + 65 p. appendices pp.
Part of: WL Rapporten. Waterbouwkundig Laboratorium: Antwerpen. , more

Available in  Authors 
Document type: Project report

Keywords
    Erosion > Coastal erosion > Beach erosion
    Hydraulics and sediment > Hydrodynamics > Current velocities  and patterns
    Hydraulics and sediment > Hydrodynamics > Tides
    Hydraulics and sediment > Hydrodynamics > Turbulence
    Hydraulics and sediment > Hydrodynamics > Water levels
    Numerical modelling
    Surges > Surface water waves > Storm surges
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    Morphodynamics; Dune erosion

Contact details

Proposer: Vlaamse overheid; Beleidsdomein Mobiliteit en Openbare Werken; Maritieme Dienstverlening en Kust; Afdeling Kust; Kust, more


Authors  Top 
  • Lanckriet, T.
  • Trouw, K., more
  • Zimmermann, N., more
  • Wang, L., more
  • De Maerschalck, B., more
  • Delgado, R., more
  • Verwaest, T., more
  • Mostaert, F., more

Abstract
    A storm occurred in the North Sea on 5-6 December 2013 (also known as the Sinterklaasstorm) which generated high surge levels and moderately high wave heights along the Belgian coast, resulting in beach and dune erosion. Measurements of beach profile change along 122 cross-shore survey transects were compared with the numerical model XBeach. First, a novel configuration for XBeach was developed that takes into account the effects of wave directional spreading since XBeach cannot resolve directionally spreading of long waves in 1D mode (which is generally used to predict cross-shore profile change). The effect of wave directional spreading on hydrodynamics and sediment transport is investigated using idealized and realistic simulations. Idealized simulations show that the near-shore long wave field is more energetic in 1D than in an equivalent 2D model with an alongshore-uniform bathymetry. Realistic storm scenarios show that this leads to predicted erosion volumes that are 25-57% higher than in the 2D model. Sparse 2D models with 5 to 8 alongshore grid cells provide a reasonable approximation (both for hydrodynamics and sediment transport) of the full 2D model (with 50 alongshore grid cells) at a lower computational cost. The December 2013 storm was therefore simulated using a sparse 2D model with 5 grid cells in the alongshore direction. Good agreement with measured erosion volumes was found when using a recently established set of calibration values provided by Deltares. Default calibration values from an older version of XBeach lead to an overestimation of the erosion volumes, as does the use of a 1D model instead of a sparse 2D model. The sensitivity of the predicted erosion volumes to increased surge levels and wave heights was also investigated.

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