EXPERIMENTAL BASIN STUDY OF WAVE-DRIVEN HYDRODYNAMICS OVER ARTIFICIAL REEFS

Submerged coastal structures (e.g., submerged breakwaters and artificial reefs) modify shoreline hydrodynamics by altering incident wave fields. Submerged breakwaters are designed to provide coastal protection by decreasing incident wave energy. In addition to providing wave attenuation, nature-based artificial reefs seek to enhance ecosystem services linked to the creation of habitat for marine organisms. However, the use of artificial reefs in coastal protection applications is still relatively limited compared to conventional coastal structures (i.e., low-crested breakwaters) in part due to uncertainty in how reefs modify a range of wave-driven hydrodynamic processes that drive shoreline change. Here we present the findings of a comprehensive series of 3D wave basin experiments. These experiments were performed to examine the detailed wave-driven hydrodynamics around artificial reefs subject to a range of wave conditions, water levels and reef layouts.