Revolutionizing coastal protection: New model predicts dune growth with precision.
A mega nourishment called the Sand Engine was built to help dunes grow naturally. Researchers used a model that combines aeolian (wind-driven) and hydrodynamic (water-driven) processes to predict dune growth. They found that most sediment for dune growth comes from low beaches. By using this model, they accurately predicted dune growth at the Sand Engine, especially at the tip of the peninsula and the area just north of it.