Wave damping by flexible marsh plants influenced by current

Abstract

We develop a wave damping model based on a prediction of current- and wave-induced force on individual plants. The model captures the influence of reconfiguration on wave forces, the impact of current on wave group velocity, and the modification of in-canopy time-mean and wave orbital velocity associated with canopy drag, all of which affect the wave dissipation by vegetation. The model explains why weak current reduces wave dissipation while strong current increases wave dissipation, as observed both in the present and previous studies. Further, we explore the impact of plant flexibility and leaf morphology on wave dissipation over a wide range of current to wave velocity ratio.

Topics & Concepts