Integrated modelling of coastal landforms

Abstract

Traditionally, independent tools have been used to simulate wave- or wind-driven processes to simulate coastal morphology change. Coupled models that cross the land-sea division and integrate these collective processes can increase our knowledge on complex morphodynamic interactions and improve predictions of the foreshore, beach, and dune evolution. In this paper we present the initial development of a coupled modelling framework capable of numerically predicting the integrated development of coastal landforms, including both marine and aeolian processes, by using a generic model coupling approach that leverages the Basic Model Interface. The aim of this tool is to support the interdisciplinary design of Nature-based Solutions on varying spatiotemporal scales. As shown for the Marker Wadden case, the implemented model functionalities allow for the numerical description of the coast in an integrated manner and thus create opportunities for modeling coastal landform of the nearshore, beach, and dune that would not be possible with a discrete model approach. Specifically, by coupling two discrete numerical models, AeoLiS and XBeach, the aeolian and marine interaction resulted in a more realistic behavior of processes in the intertidal area. After coupling, bed levels compared better to the observations compared to the superpositioned results of both separate model components, which showed the added value and potential of coupled modelling. These findings have implications on the ability to predict spatio-temporal integrated coastal development – including these interacting aerodynamic, hydrodynamic, and ecological processes, which are essential in the interdisciplinary design of NbS.