Potential Wave Impacts On Shorelines In Intertidal Waterways

Coastal erosion is caused by a deficit in the sediment balance along coastal shorelines. Within the intertidal waterway of Jacksonville, Florida, the primary processes acting on the shoreline are tidal currents and waves generated by winds and passing vessels. This study focuses on the analysis of vessel-generated waves and their possible effects on different shoreline types. The experiment conducted herein examines variations in turbidity related to passing boats at a specifically selected site location, at which different tidal stages expose three different shoreline types, a non-vegetated scarp, a vegetated scarp and a vegetated area with no scarp in the breaking zone. Statistical analyses were used to quantify relationships between turbidity and wave height within these three different shoreline types. It was determined that both wave heights and the type of shoreline can affect local turbidity levels. Shorelines that contained vegetation experienced significantly less turbidity, than shorelines with no vegetation. Based on the findings here, some preventative measures are suggested to reduce the erosion of intracoastal shorelines into the channel. This would most likely entail boating restrictions or some protective measures to shelter the intracoastal banks.

Grantor dc:publisher

UNF Digital Commons

Year dc:date

2016

Author dc:creator

• Ries, Collin

• turbidity; sediment suspension; erosion; boat waves; intertidal shorelines; coastal vegetation
• Civil Engineering
• Other Civil and Environmental Engineering

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/etd/717

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.unf.edu:etd-1734