Rising sea levels threaten beaches and coastal structures, new model predicts.
The article discusses a numerical model called CSHORE that aims to improve our understanding of beach erosion and coastal damage during storms. The model combines wave, current, sediment transport, and beach profile evolution components to predict beach morphology changes and structural damage progression. The goal is to develop simple and reliable models for engineering applications. The researchers have been working on this model for the past 10 years, focusing on alongshore uniformity. Key components include wave and current equations, sediment transport models, and empirical formulas for wave runup and overtopping. The model also considers intermittently wet and dry zones to predict wave overwash and damage to coastal structures.