Evaluation of the suppression on blown sand effect of vegetation on sand beaches expanded by the Noto peninsula earthquake uplift.

Abstract

This study targeted Kaiso Beach in Wajima City, where blown sand damage risks increased due to beach expansion caused by uplift from the Noto Peninsula Earthquake. Its objectives were to identify plant species expected to suppress blown sand and quantitatively evaluate their effectiveness. The research methodology involved conducting a total of seven aerial surveys using a small UAV over a period of approximately two years following the earthquake to create distribution maps of vegetation and sand surface fluctuations. Among coastal plants at the study site, Carex kobomugi exhibited the largest distribution area. Evaluation of its sand suppressing effect estimated a sand suppressing of 5–10 cm over approximately 10 months compared to surrounding bare ground. This suggests potential for utilizing this vegetation in future blown sand countermeasures.