Seagrass, the defenders of our coasts!
Seagrass is an often overlooked but important component of our oceans. Not only does it provide a home and shelter for many marine creatures, but it also plays a crucial role in protecting our coastlines from erosion by reducing the force of waves. A recent study by Alice Twomey, published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin, highlights the importance of seagrass in wave attenuation – or the reduction of wave energy – and how it can be effectively utilized in coastal management strategies.
The study synthesizes data from previous research to create a comprehensive understanding of how seagrass can effectively reduce wave energy. It found that the drag coefficient, which measures the resistance of an object in a fluid, is a key indicator in determining how effective seagrass is at attenuating waves. Seagrass with a higher drag coefficient – meaning it has more resistance to water flow – is more effective at reducing wave energy.
Seagrass is an aquatic plant that grows in shallow coastal waters and is found in many parts of the world. It plays an important role in maintaining the health of marine ecosystems by providing habitats for a variety of marine organisms, such as fish and crustaceans. In addition to this, seagrass also plays a crucial role in reducing the force of waves that hit our coastlines. This makes it an important part of coastal protection strategies that aim to mitigate the impacts of sea level rise and climate change.
Seagrass has been found to be effective at reducing wave energy due to its complex physical structure. The plants have long, flexible leaves that sway in the water, creating friction and turbulence that slows down the movement of waves. This reduces the energy of the waves and prevents them from eroding the coastline. Seagrass meadows can also trap sediment, which helps to build up the shoreline and reduce the risk of erosion.
However, not all seagrass meadows are equally effective at reducing wave energy. The effectiveness of a particular meadow depends on a number of factors, including the density and height of the seagrass, as well as the wave conditions and sediment type in the area.
In order to better understand the effectiveness of seagrass meadows in wave attenuation, I synthesized data from previous studies that looked at wave attenuation by seagrass. The goal of the study was to identify the key factors that determine the effectiveness of seagrass in reducing wave energy and to create a framework that can be used to predict the effectiveness of seagrass meadows in different locations.
The study found that the drag coefficient, which measures the resistance of an object in a fluid, is a key indicator in determining how effective seagrass is at reducing wave energy. Seagrass with a higher drag coefficient – meaning it has more resistance to water flow – is more effective at reducing wave energy. The study also found that seagrass density, blade length, and the type of sediment in the area can all affect the effectiveness of seagrass in wave attenuation.
The research is important because it highlights the need to consider the physical structure of seagrass when designing coastal protection strategies. The study suggests that seagrass meadows with a higher drag coefficient are more effective at reducing wave energy and thus more effective at protecting coastlines from erosion. By taking into account the drag coefficient of seagrass, coastal managers can better predict the effectiveness of seagrass meadows in wave attenuation and design more effective coastal protection strategies.
The study also highlights the need for further research on the physical structure of seagrass and its role in wave attenuation. More research is needed to understand how factors such as seagrass density, blade length, and sediment type affect the drag coefficient of seagrass and its effectiveness in wave attenuation.
For more information, the full article can be found here.
