A Storm Tide Beach Erosion Model for the Adelaide Coast, Australia

Abstract

The applicability of the storm surge-induced sediment transport equation to the Adelaide coastal profiles was investigated. A numerical model was developed, and the beach face dune erosion and cross-shore profile evolution for 1981 storm events were estimated. The two parameters required by the model were determined from the storm and the beach data. A sensitivity analysis of the model parameters for the beach face dune erosion limit was carried out. The efficiency of the model to reproduce the observed beach profile was also calculated. The predicted dune erosion was within the range of the observed dune erosion, and the agreement between the simulated and measured profiles was considered satisfactory. The model required a minimum data set comprising cross-shore profile, storm surge height, and wave height information and sediment characteristics.